Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Kansas children continue to be at risk for lead poisoning, but the good news is that lead poisoning can be prevented. The only way to know if a child has lead poisoning is to have them tested. There is no safe blood lead level for children.
Kansas Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
The Kansas Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) works to reduce childhood lead poisoning in Kansas by increasing awareness of the risks and sharing successful prevention strategies. The program works with collaborative partners to accomplish this goal statewide, providing educational and outreach materials, in-person presentations, and speaking at local events. For more information, email the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
More About Childhood Lead Poisoning & Prevention
Who Is at Risk?
Children under the age of 6 years old are at a greater risk for lead poisoning. This is because they are growing rapidly and tend to have behaviors that increase the potential for exposure to lead sources. They are also more susceptible to lead poisoning health effects. No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, delay development, cause behavioral problems, and cause other serious health effects. Lead has no smell and is difficult to identify. Most children that have lead poisoning do not demonstrate any obvious symptoms. Learn more about the risk of lead poisoning.
How Can Lead Exposure Be Prevented?
The most important way to prevent lead poisoning is to stop children from being exposed to any sources of lead. Lead hazards in a child's environment must be identified and controlled or removed safely. Protecting children from exposure to lead is important for their development and health. Lead-based paint and lead contaminated dust are the most hazardous sources of lead for children. Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978 and that paint becomes especially problematic when it deteriorates. Lead-based paint is not the only source of lead that children are exposed to. Some examples of other sources of lead exposure are:
- Contaminated soil
- Leaded gasoline
- Solder
- Imported items
- Old toys
- Exposure through adult occupations or hobbies
Learn more about how to protect your family from lead in the home.
Surveillance
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment conducts blood lead surveillance for the state of Kansas. Surveillance activities are provided through a partnership with local health departments and other entities involved in the testing, reporting, monitoring and management of blood lead. Blood lead data for Kansas is compiled and made available through the Kansas Environmental Public Health Tracking Program.
Kansas Environmental Public Health Tracking Program
The Kansas Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program collaborates with the Kansas Environmental Public Health Tracking Program (Tracking) to provide blood lead surveillance data, guidance documents, and resources. Visit the Tracking Program website for more information and resources.
Partnership with CDC
The Lead Contamination Control Act of 1988 authorized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to initiate program efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in the United States. The Kansas Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is funded through a cooperative agreement between the CDC and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.