CASPER, Wyo. — On Tuesday, the Wyoming Department of Health issued a press release regarding lead exposure ahead of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which starts on Sunday, Oct. 23.
There is no safe blood level and no cure for lead poisoning, the WDH said. Young children are more likely to experience negative effects from lead exposure “because their bodies are still developing, they absorb more lead per body size and habits such as mouthing and crawling can introduce more contaminants.”
“Even low levels of lead can harm children,” said Forrest Sharp, Blood Lead Prevention Program manager and epidemiologist with the WDH.
The WDH recommends that children get blood lead testing at 12 months and again at 24 months. Children should also get tested if other family members have been exposed to lead. Pregnant women should also get blood lead testing if they may have been exposed to lead, the WDH added.
“In 2021 WDH received blood lead testing reports for an estimated 3.1 percent of Wyoming children under 6 years old,” the WDH said.
The WDH said childhood lead exposure can cause:
- Brain and nervous system damage
- Learning and behavior problems
- Slow growth and development
- Hearing and speech problems
Due to the potential effects of lead exposure, Sharp said he’d like to see a higher percentage of Wyoming children get blood lead testing.
“For children, these effects can cause learning difficulties, decreased ability to pay attention and underperformance in school,” he said.
If testing indicates a child has been exposed to lead, the WDH recommends the following steps:
- Finding and removing the source of lead from the child’s environment
- Feeding the child a diet high in iron and calcium
- Considering early educational services
- Following up with additional blood lead testing and treatment as needed
The most common sources of lead exposure for children are lead-based paint, lead-contaminated soil and lead-contaminated drinking water, the WDH said. Lead-based paint was used in many homes built before 1978, according to Sharp.
“Unfortunately, children can inhale lead dust created by deteriorating paint, eat paint chips or chew on surfaces such as window sills coated in lead dust,” Sharp said.
Soil can become contaminated from exterior lead-based paint falling onto the soil, and drinking water can become contaminated by lead pipes, faucets and fixtures, the WDH said.
“One thing that can be surprising to some people is learning they can bring home lead on their work clothes, depending on how they spend their days,” Sharp said.
The WDH said other possible lead sources include:
- Toys
- Painted furniture and jewelry
- Health remedies
- Food/candy
- Cosmetics
- Lead-glazed ceramics
Steps to help prevent lead exposure include the following, according to the WDH:
- Fixing peeling or chipping lead-based paint
- Regularly cleaning surfaces using wet methods
- Washing children’s hands, pacifiers and toys
- Removing shoes before entering the house
- Washing clothes and showering immediately after lead-related work or hobbies
“For homes built before 1978, Sharp said it can be a good idea to hire a certified inspector or risk assessor to check for lead hazards,” the WDH said. “For more information about lead testing and prevention recommendations in Wyoming, please contact Sharp at forrest.sharp@wyo.gov or 307-777-5606.”
