Childhood Lead Poisoning
Prevention Program

Did you know homes built before 1978 may have lead paint? Lead poisoning is a serious but preventable disease that happens when too much lead builds up in the body.  At low levels, lead poisoning can cause learning delays, behavioral problems, and brain damage.  At higher levels of lead poisoning, serious disability or even death can occur. Children 6 years old and younger are at the greatest risk of getting lead poisoning. Lead in the environment may also be harmful to a pregnant woman's unborn child.

How Can I Tell if My Child Has Lead Poisoning? 

Sources of Lead Poisoning 

What Can I Do to Prevent Lead Poisoning? 

List of Open Lead Abatement Work Orders 

Lead Poisoning Information 

Lead Poisoning Awareness Mittens Campaign 

For More Information 

How Can I Tell if My Child Has Lead Poisoning?
Most children show no signs of lead poisoning. Every child should be tested for lead poisoning 3 times before age 3 and at least once a year after, until age 6. A blood test measuring the amount of lead in a child's body is the only way to determine if lead poisoning has occurred. To have your child tested for lead poisoning, call your child's physician or the Environmental Health Division.

Ask Yourself the Following Questions:  

• Does your child live in or visit a house with chipping or peeling paint or that is being remodeled and was built before 1978?  
   
• Does your child have a brother, sister, or playmate with lead poisoning?   
   
• Does your child live near or have a family member employed at a factory that may release lead?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your child is at high risk of lead poisoning.

Sources of Lead Poisoning
Lead paint is the major source of dangerous environmental exposure for young children. A paint chip the size of a fingernail can be enough to cause severely elevated blood lead levels in a child. Household remodeling can produce dangerous levels of lead contaminated dust. Paint can chip and flake, contaminating areas around a house where children are likely to play. Soil and dust may also contain lead from leaded gasoline, industry, and deteriorating exterior house paint.

What Can I Do to Prevent Lead Poisoning?
A well-balanced diet is very important. It is recommended that your child eat three meals a day with nutritious snacks in-between. Select a variety of foods from the Bread, Cereal, Rice & Pasta Group; Fruit Group; Vegetable Group; Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese Group; and the Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, & Nuts Group. Current research shows that a variety of foods from the Food Guide Chart will give your child important nutrients to help protect him/her from lead poisoning and can help reduce the amount of lead in his/her body. Families meeting income guidelines may be eligible for WIC.

The most important thing to do in preventing lead poisoning in your child is to reduce the sources of lead in your child's world. Here are some helpful ways to protect your child from lead poisoning: 

• Watch what your child puts into his/her mouth, and never let your child eat paint chips. Wash your child's hands often to remove dust and dirt, especially before meal time. Clean up any paint chips or dust which may be in the home.



• Twice a month, clean your floors, tables, furniture, window sills, and window wells with a detergent to remove dirt and then rinse well with clean water.  
   
• Never use a household or shop vacuum to clean-up paint chips or dust. Instead, use a HEPA vacuum. One is available on loan from the Environmental Health Division.
  Environmental Health Division HEPA Vacuum Loan Form
   
• Some pottery and ceramics may contain lead. Consult the Environmental Health Division if you have any questions about these items.
   

List of Open Lead Abatement Work Orders
The purpose of these listings is to provide information to property owners, tenants, potential buyers, and the general public about the existence of lead-based paint hazards in residential property.

The following lists contain information about the properties for which lead abatement work orders are outstanding.  A letter is sent to owners of vacant properties on this list, explaining that lead hazards must be abated prior to the residence being re-occupied.

Outstanding Lead Abatement Orders 

Federal regulations require home sellers and landlords to disclose information regarding the presence of lead based paint hazards to future buyers or tenants. Copies of Lead Abatement Work Orders can be obtained for any of these vacant or occupied properties by contacting the Environmental Health Division.

 

Lead Poisoning Information
Wisconsin DHS Lead Product Alerts and Recalls

Lead Paint Safety
English        Español

Lead Poisoning: What you Need to Know
English        Español

Look Out for Lead
English        Español

Protect Your Family from Lead
English        Español

Renovate Right: Families, Child Care, and Schools
English

Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right
English 

Wisconsin Physician's Guide to Blood Lead Screening/Treatment
English 

Racine Lead Poisoning Statistics
Map of Lead Poisoned Children
Number of Children with Blood Lead ≥ 10 μg/dL
Prevalence of Lead Poisoning in Children
3-Year Moving Average: Children with Blood Lead ≥ 10 μg/dL
Number of Individuals Screened for Lead Poisoning 

Other Important Links
CDC's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Page
Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin
City of Racine Loan Program
Kenosha/Racine Lead-Free Communities Partnership - Legacy of Lead
Lead-Safe Wisconsin
Racine/Kenosha Lead-Free Communities Partnership Program
Racine Housing Authority 

Lead Poisoning Awareness Mittens Campaign
In November 2012, the City of Racine Health Department hosted a Lead Poisoning Awareness Campaign event at the Racine Public Library.  Mittens were hung from the ceiling of the children's area in the Library.  There were 3,159 pairs total, one for every lead poisoned child in the City of Racine from 1996 through 2011.  The campaign event featured a storytime for children in attendance, as well as educational information about lead poisoning for all adults present.

Once concluded, the mittens were distributed to area children with the assistance of the United Way of Racine County.

Read more about the campaign event here.

For More Information
If you have questions or would like more information,
call 262-636-9203.