Childhood Lead Poisoning Response

Step 1.Home Inspection

The Department of Health will inspect your home for lead hazards.

If the inspector finds lead hazards, we will recommend interim measures to keep you and your family safe. We will teach you about ways to reduce exposure. You will learn how to wet clean your home, and we will give you free wet cleaning supplies.

Step 2.Remediation

If your home contains lead hazards, we will work with you or your landlord to create and implement a plan to safely remediate your home.

If you own your home and want to do the remediation yourself, you will need a lead remediation certification. We offer a free lead remediation certification class. If you want to hire a contractor to remediate your home, you must choose a lead certified contractor, or have your contractor get certified before they do the work.

If you rent your home, keep paying rent. Coordinate with the landlord to provide access for visits needed to create a workplan, perform lead remediation and follow up inspections.

In the meantime, you should take steps to keep your family safe from lead. This includes regularly wet cleaning your home and washing your hands before eating, sleeping, and after playing outside. 

Step 3.Work with UCDOH nurses to keep your child safe

A nurse from the Department of Health will reach out to you with lead poisoning risk reduction techniques, nutritional guidance, and medical follow up requirements.

Our nurses will monitor the blood lead levels of all children admitted to the Childhood Lead Poisoning Response Program.

Expect frequent contact from our nurses. They will work with you and your child's medical providers to develop an individualized treatment plan. Your child's blood lead levels must be tested regularly until they are discharged. Our nurses will monitor your child's progress.

Step 1.Test

Test all children at age 1 year and again at age 2 with a blood lead test.

Step 2.Assess

Assess all children ages 6 months to 6 years at every well child visit for risk of lead exposure and obtain a blood lead test if there is a positive response to ANY of the questions below in Clinical Lead Risk Assessment Questions for All Children Less than 6 Years.

Step 3.Report to NYS DOH

Report point-of-care blood lead test results to the New York State Department of Health in accordance with guidance:  www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/laboratories.htm.

Step 4.Inform Parent or Guardian

Inform parent or guardian of the child the result of the blood lead test. What Your Child’s Blood Lead Test Means:  www.health.ny.gov/publications/2526.pdf provides helpful information to provide with the test results.

Step 5.Advise Parent or Guardian

Provide anticipatory guidance to all parents or guardians of children as part of routine care, which may include the Lead Poisoning is a Danger for Every Baby and Child: www.health.ny.gov/publications/2594.pdf.

Additional Testing Recommendations:

• For capillary blood samples, ensure the child’s hands are washed thoroughly with soap and water. Dry with a clean, low-lint/dustproof towel or air dry. Once washed, the clean finger must not be allowed to touch any surface, including the child’s other fingers. Any amount of lead present on the finger will contaminate the sample. An alcohol swab is not sufficient for removing contamination from the finger.

• Test all children born outside of the U.S. up to age 16 years old, particularly refugee and internationally adopted children, upon arrival in the U.S. and again 3-6 months after they obtain permanent residences.

• Test children of any age if lead exposure is suspected. All children found to have elevated blood lead levels regardless of age require follow-up services.

• Ask the parent or guardian whether they plan to enroll, or if the child is already enrolled, in Medicaid, WIC, preschool/day care, an Early Intervention Program, Head Start, or kindergarten. These programs require blood lead testing documentation, which should be provided.