National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is observed October 20 – 26, 2024. This year’s theme is “Bright futures begin lead-free.” The theme highlights the importance of preventing lead exposure among children under 6 years of age by raising awareness about the sources of lead exposure, how to reduce exposure to lead, the health effects of lead exposure, and the importance of testing children and homes for lead.

Lead exposure hazards are present in more than 3 million American households with children under 6 years of age, including more than 2 million low-income households. Although lead exposure is preventable, many children in America still experience health effects from lead. There is no known safe blood lead level for children, and even low levels of lead in blood are associated with developmental delays, difficulty learning, and behavioral issues.

“Living lead-safe is achievable for every child in the Upper Peninsula. Between parents advocating for their child to be tested for lead and providers testing children for lead, every child can have a lead-safe start to life,” states UP Lead Coordinator, Erin Kiraly. “The effects of lead poisoning last a lifetime. Lead-based paint (from homes built before 1978) is the leading cause of lead poisoning in Michigan. Every county in the Upper Peninsula has many homes built before 1978, and damaged or deteriorated paint can cause significant lifelong neurological and development impacts to children.”

Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties, in partnership with Upper Peninsula Health Plan, encourages other organizations, community leaders, public health, and healthcare professionals to use free resources available at https://www.epa.gov/lead/national-lead-poisoning-prevention-week to promote National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

Additional information about lead, lead hazards, and their prevention is available to the public through the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD [5323].