DHS/OCMH
Office of Children's Mental Health


June 15, 2022
Contact: Elizabeth Goodsitt/Jennifer Miller 608-266-1683

*
Office of Children's Mental Health Focuses on Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning *

Office of Children?s Mental Health Director Linda Hall today announces the publication of a new fact sheet,?Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning [ [link removed] ], and what parents, health care providers, and policymakers can do to make a difference.

Lead is a toxic metal that poisons the brain and body. There is no safe blood lead level (BLL), so even very small amounts are dangerous. Lead exposure mainly comes from paint, soil, and water. Lead exposure damages a child?s developing brain, kidneys, and nervous system. It can cause learning disabilities, behavior problems, seizures, and in extreme cases, death.

Many children who are lead poisoned never show symptoms, resulting in it going undetected. Undiagnosed lead poisoning can cause a child?s intellectual or behavioral issues to be misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or ignored.

?We know how to prevent lead poisoning and we must prioritize preventative measures to protect Wisconsin?s children,? Hall said. ?Tragically, too many children in Wisconsin still suffer the consequences of lead poisoning. Even small amounts of lead can poison a child, leading to behavioral problems, mood disorders, learning disabilities, lower academic performance, and lifetime consequences. Pediatricians, policymakers and parents can all help prevent lead poisoning.?

Lead poisoning is 100% preventable and treatable if detected early.


* Lead exposure is a problem in all of Wisconsin?s 72 counties.
* Children are most at-risk of lead exposure if they live in neighborhoods with older homes, lower housing values, and a higher proportion of rental properties
* Although rates of lead poisoning have declined over time in Wisconsin, there are dramatic differences for children of color, especially Black children who are poisoned more than three times the rate of White children.

*What We Can Do*

*Parents*


* Ask your health care provider about lead testing.
* Check and test your home for lead if you live in a home built before 1978.

*Health Care Providers*


* Ensure children ages 0-6 receive age-appropriate lead testes, especially children living in high-risk areas.
* Immediately connect parents of children with elevated BLL to services to prevent further exposure and for treatment.

*Policymakers*


* Repeal Wisconsin law that blocks local rental licensing and certification programs and restricts the fees collected to recoup programs costs.
* Increase funding for lead poisoning prevention efforts, particularly home lead abatement programs and lead service line replacement. Target funds to communities with the highest risk and rates of poisoning.?
* Create a grant program for in-home childcare providers, who care for a third of all infants, to remediate lead hazards in their childcare setting.?
* Make blood lead level tests for Wisconsin children free regardless of insurance coverage.

See the complete fact sheet [ [link removed] ].?

See previous fact sheets [ [link removed] ].



Please do not reply directly to this email message. If you have a question, email the Department of Health Services Communications Team <[email protected]> or call the media line at 608-266-1683.







*Stay Connected with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services*

Sign up for email updates [ [link removed] ]?Visit Our Website! [ [link removed] ]?Visit us on YouTube [ [link removed] ]? [ [link removed] ] Find us on Facebook! [ [link removed] ]

_Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ]_?|?Help [ [link removed] ]


body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } ________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Wisconsin Department of Health Services ? 1 West Wilson Street ? Madison, WI 53703 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]