Illinois’ childhood lead exposure rates among the highest in the nation, IDPH urges lead poisoning awareness | Top Stories

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) – October 22-28 has now been proclaimed as Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in Illinois.

Governor JB Pritzker and Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, have joined with health care professionals and agencies across the state on lead prevention efforts, highlighting the need to reduce lead exposure in children.

According to Dr. Vohra, Illinois’ childhood lead exposure rates are among the highest in the nation. The primary source of lead poisonings is contaminated dust created by disturbed and/or deteriorated lead-based paint in the state’s 2 million homes built before 1978, the year that lead-based paint was banned.

Dr. Vohra warns that lead in soil, water and other products containing lead also may result in an exposure that could have life-long consequences.

Experts say lead exposure can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavioral problems, and even coma and death at severely high levels. Anyone can be exposed to lead, but children are at greatest risk. Lead can also be passed from a pregnant person to their unborn child.

Children 6 years of age and younger are required to be evaluated for lead exposure risks by their physician and receive a blood test, if necessary. Children are recommended to be evaluated or tested at 12 months and 24 months of age, and at 3, 4, 5, and 6 years of age.

IDPH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have determined that one of the most effective ways to ensure children are protected from the harmful effects of lead is by reducing their exposure to lead contaminated dust in homes where lead-based paint was used prior to being banned.

The CDC states simple measures such as regularly wet mopping hard surfaced floors and frequently washing children’s hands and their toys as they play should be utilized.

In addition, testing for the presence of lead in the blood can reveal exposures that would require health interventions. Illinois standards call for public health intervention at five µg/dL (micrograms per deciliter) or higher blood lead levels in children 1 to 5 years of age.

State officials report in 2022, Illinois identified more than 3,070 children with confirmed blood lead levels that exceeded public health intervention criteria.

Testing declined from 22% (2021) to 18% (2022).

The State strives to bring awareness to underserved communities, as lead exposure has historically disproportionately impacted Black communities. In 2022, 2.6% of Black/African American children tested at public health intervention levels of 5 µg/dL or greater, compared to 1.6% for Whites and 1.5% for Hispanics.

IDPH also reminds parents that school health forms are required for enrollment by October 15 of each school year and a lead section is a required part of the form. Evaluation for lead exposure and testing, if indicated, is required for entry into day care, preschool, and kindergarten.

In an effort to address the risk of lead poisoning in older homes, IDPH has instituted the Comprehensive Lead Education, Reduction, and Window Replacement (CLEAR-Win) program to reduce the financial burden of lead abatement for low-income residential property owners.

Qualified property owners can apply for grants from local agencies from now through June 30, 2025, for window replacement and, where necessary, other lead hazard control techniques to reduce lead paint and leaded plumbing hazards.

According to IDPH, approximately 58% of houses in the state were built before 1978 and, among those, about 40% contain a lead hazard.

The CLEAR-Win grantee agencies include Christian County Health Department, Ford County Public Health Department, Lee County Health Department, Montgomery County Health Department, and Winnebago County Health Department.

Dr. Vohra states “It is important to remind everyone who have children living in high-risk lead ZIP codes, homes built before 1978, or with answers of “yes” or “don’t know” on the Children’s Lead Risk Assessment Questionnaire to receive a blood lead test and to find and eliminate the sources of lead exposure.”

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