Childhood Lead Poisoning
Child Blood Lead Levels
Childhood lead poisoning is preventable. Before some uses of lead were restricted (for example, the ban on leaded gasline), approximately 88% of preschool children in the United States had lead levels high enough to cause serious health effects. With less lead in the environment, lead poisonings have decreased and become less severe. However, lead poisoning still occurs.
Today in the U.S.,, approximately 310,000 U.S. children aged 1- 5 years have blood lead levels greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (µg/dL), the level at which the CDC recommends public health interventions.
In 2010, 73,770 children 6 and under were tested for lead in Louisiana. 823 children of those tested had elevated blood lead levels.
The key to preventing lead poisoning in children is to stop them from coming into contact with lead; those children who have been poisoned by lead must also be tracked and treated.
Click here to get the latest information on childhood lead poisoning and prevention.
State Lead Prevention Resources
Universal Screening Rule
- Louisiana laws requires that all children are tested for lead when they are: 12 months and 24 months
- or at any time from ages 36 months (3 years) to 72 months (6 years) if they have not been tested
Contact LACLPPP at 504-568-8254 for more information regarding the law or for more information on chilhood lead poisoning.
Worker Safety after the Gulf Coast Hurricanes 
- New Orleans is an old city that is know for its unique architecture
- Almost 110,000 of homes that are located in New Orleans were buit before 1950
- Before 1950, lead was often used in paint
- Workers need to use lead safe practices to protect themselves,their familes and others from coming in contact with lead
- Since Hurricances Katrina and Rita, many workers have been been removing lead based paint from homes without wearing personal protective equiptment and do not change their clothing before going home.
Click on one of the topics below to learn more about childhood lead poisoning and environmental public health tracking: