Environmental Health Division

Phone: 262-636-9203

Fax: 262-636-9165
After-hours Public Health Emergencies:

262-886-2300

Email:

PublicHealth@CityofRacine.org

Location:

730 Washington Avenue

Garden Level

Racine, WI 53403

Hours:

Monday – Friday

8:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M
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Environmental Health

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention

Did you know homes built before 1978 may have lead paint? Lead poisoning is a serious but preventable disease that happens when too much lead builds up in the body. At low levels, lead poisoning can cause learning delays, behavioral problems, and brain damage. At higher levels of lead poisoning, serious disability or even death can occur. Children 6 years old and younger are at the greatest risk of getting lead poisoning. Lead in the environment may also be harmful to a pregnant woman’s unborn child.

Children need to be tested for lead poisoning 3 times before the age of 3, and yearly after age 3 until they are 6 years old. For more information, call the Public Health Department Community Health Clinic at 262-636-9431.

How Can I Tell if My Child Has Lead Poisoning?

Sources of Lead Poisoning

Lead in Drinking Water

What Can I Do to Prevent Lead Poisoning?

List of Open Lead Abatement Work Orders

Lead Poisoning Information

Live Lead Safe Program

For More Information

How Can I Tell if My Child Has Lead Poisoning?

Most children show no signs of lead poisoning. Every child should be tested for lead poisoning 3 times before age 3 and at least once a year after, until age 6. A blood test measuring the amount of lead in a child’s body is the only way to determine if lead poisoning has occurred. To have your child tested for lead poisoning, call your child’s physician.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Does your child live in or visit a house with chipping or peeling paint, or that is being remodeled, and was built before 1978?
Does your child have a brother, sister, or playmate with lead poisoning?
Does your child live near or have a family member employed at a factory or in Construction/Demolition that may release lead?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your child is at high risk of lead poisoning.

Sources of Lead Poisoning

Lead paint is the major source of dangerous environmental exposure for young children. A paint chip the size of a fingernail can be enough to cause severely elevated blood lead levels in a child. Household remodeling can produce dangerous levels of lead-contaminated dust. Paint can chip and flake, contaminating areas around a house where children are likely to play. Soil and dust may also contain lead from leaded gasoline, industry, and deteriorating exterior house paint.

Lead in Drinking Water

Most often, when lead is present in drinking water it is the result of the water dissolving lead from the plumbing pipes. Flushing the pipes by running water from the faucet for 2 to 3 minutes before using will greatly reduce the amount of lead present. The document below contains more information about lead in drinking water, testing water for lead, and ways to reduce exposure.

Lead in Water

The City of Racine Water Utility has information about
lead in drinking water and private lead service line replacement program.

What Can I Do to Prevent Lead Poisoning?

A well-balanced diet is very important. It is recommended that your child eat three meals a day with nutritious snacks in-between. Select a variety of foods from the Bread, Cereal, Rice & Pasta Group; Fruit Group; Vegetable Group; Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese Group; and Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, & Nuts Group. Current research shows a variety of foods will give your child important nutrients to help protect him/her from lead poisoning and can help reduce the amount of lead in his/her body. Families meeting income guidelines may be eligible for WIC.

The most important thing to do in preventing lead poisoning in your child is to reduce the sources of lead in your child’s world.

Here are some helpful ways to protect your child from lead poisoning:

Watch what your child puts into his/her mouth, and never let your child eat paint chips. Wash your child’s hands often to remove dust and dirt, especially before meal time. Clean up any paint chips or dust which may be in the home.
Twice a month, clean your floors, tables, furniture, window sills, and window wells with a detergent to remove dirt and then rinse well with clean water.
Never use a household or shop vacuum to clean-up paint chips or dust. Instead, use a HEPA vacuum.
HEPA vacuums are available on loan from the City of Racine Public Health Department – Environmental Health Division.
Some pottery and ceramics may contain lead. Consult the City of Racine Public Health Department – Environmental Health Division if you have any questions about these items.

Lead Abatement Work Orders

Federal regulations require home sellers and landlords to disclose information regarding the presence of lead-based paint hazards to future buyers or tenants. Copies of Lead Abatement Work Orders can be obtained for any vacant or occupied properties by contacting the Environmental Health Division.