Parents encouraged to get children tested for lead exposure
With National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week having taken place Oct. 24-30, the Delaware Division of Public Health is strongly encouraging all parents to get their babies and toddlers their regular tests for lead exposure.
Delaware regulations require that each child in Delaware get a blood lead level test at or around 12 months of age and again at 24 months.
As the COVID-19 pandemic began shutting down Delaware businesses in 2020, DPH saw another slowdown - far fewer babies and toddlers have been being tested for lead exposure. A recent review of Delaware childhood blood lead testing data shows a significant decrease in childhood lead screenings in 2020 due to the pandemic. Lead testing rates dropped by an average of 54 percent in the first six months of 2020, compared with 2019. During the first six months of 2021, childhood lead testing rates in Delaware dropped by an average of 63 percent, compared with 2019.
Children younger than age 6, including unborn babies, are most susceptible to lead poisoning because their brains and central nervous systems are still developing. Childhood lead poisoning permanently damages the brain, leading to learning disabilities and other health problems.
“There is really no safe level of lead in the blood, so it is essential for those who may have missed getting their child tested to do so immediately,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, DPH director. “Testing is an easy way to detect a problem and prevent further exposure.”
Children and families are spending more time in their homes during the pandemic, increasing their risk of lead exposure from paint and dust, the primary sources of lead poisoning. Many families and property owners in older homes also are also using this time to initiate do-it-yourself home projects or renovations, further increasing the risk of lead exposure.
To learn more about childhood lead poisoning, contact the DPH Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 302-744-4546, Ext. 5, or go to dhss.delaware.gov.
