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Lead poisoning is an entirely preventable environmental disease, yet Wisconsin’s children are three times more likely to suffer from lead poisoning than the national average.
Large health disparities exist in lead poisoning among children in Wisconsin. The highest rates of lead poisoning are found among African American children, followed by Asian and Hispanic children.
Homes built before 1978, when lead paint was banned from the American market, are likely to contain lead-based paint. Children who play near windows, porches or other areas of the home with chipping or peeling paint can get lead dust on their fingers and toys and subsequently into their mouths where the lead enters their blood streams.
Lead poisoning causes serious and permanent health problems in young children. Health effects include reduction in intelligence and attention span, reading and learning disabilities, behavior problems, impaired hearing, kidney damage and slowed growth.
The only way to know if a child is lead poisoned is to have a blood test. Approximately 82,000 Wisconsin children are tested for lead poisoning each year. From 2000-2005, more than 15,000 Wisconsin children were found to be poisoned by lead. The most effective way to prevent lead poisoning is to control or remove lead hazards from the home environment. It is estimated that over 450,000 Wisconsin homes contain significant lead hazards.
The Alliance is helping to facilitate and staff Wisconsin's effort to eliminate lead poisoning among children. We are funded by the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. This includes collaborating with organizations, building partnerships, educating policymakers and participation in the Lead Poisoning Elimination Implementation and Oversight Committee.
Our collective goal is to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Wisconsin by assisting local communities in developing a plan and identifying necessary resources for implementation.
This state plan provides strategies for community education, addressing lead hazards in housing, blood lead testing, data sharing, funding and resources. View the state plan.
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For more information about our lead poisoning initiatives, please contact us.
DID YOU KNOW...
A child's blood lead level tends to be highest between 18 and 36 months of age due to increased mobility and frequent hand-to-mouth behavior. Lead-contaminated household dust is easily ingested.
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