Is your child at risk for exposure to lead?
- Does your child live in or regularly visit a house or childcare center built before 1978?
- Does your child have a sibling or playmate who has an elevated blood lead level?
- Does your child frequently come in contact with a person who works in an industry using lead, such as a battery factory, smelter, or a radiator shop?
- Does your child frequently come in contact with a person who has a hobby that uses lead, such as stained glass, fishing, or reloading ammunition?
- Is your child a recent immigrant from a country where the use of lead in consumer products is not restricted?
- Is your child a member of a minority group?
- Is your child enrolled in Hoosier Healthwise (Medicaid)?
- Do you give your child traditional remedies that may contain lead, such as Arzacon or Greta?
- Have you exposed your child to traditional cosmetics that may contain lead such as kohl?
If you answered YES to ANY of the above AT RISK questions, your child is more likely to have an elevated blood lead level. The only sure way to know if your child has an elevated blood lead level is to have a blood test. If you have medical insurance, please visit your family physician for testing information. If you are uninsured, please call the Health Department at 812-948-4726, option 3 for more information.
Symptoms of elevated blood lead levels may include:
- Tiredness
- Sleep problems
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Nervousness
- Headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Depression
- Forgetfulness
- Hyperactivity (children)
- Numbness
- Wrist or foot drop
- Weakness
- Clumsiness
- Joint and muscle pain
- Vomiting
- Loss of Appetite
- Stomach aches
- Constipation
- Metal taste in the mouth
- Problems having healthy children
The Floyd County Health Department follows the Indiana State Department of Health’s Lead Screening Requirements chart for Case Management, Education, and Environmental Risk Assessment. The Environmental Department is dedicated to conducting Risk Assessments of homes where children with EBLLs live or visit frequently.
Dangers of working with Lead:
Below are some pamphlets with information regarding lead poisoning and steps you can take to decrease the risk of lead poisoning in your child.
- ISDH Lead Brochure
- ISDH Lead Fact Sheet
- CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Brochure
- EPA Protects Your Family From Lead
- EPA Renovate Right Brochure (tips for renovating your home)
- EPA Renovate Lead Safe Fact Sheet
- Finding Lead-Based Paint in Your Home
- Some Common Sources of Lead Exposure in Children
For more information on leads, please visit the following:
- CDC's Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Lead in Paint, Dust & Soil & Lead
- ISDH Lead & Healthy Homes Division
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – Lead
- US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Indiana Healthy Homes Alliance
- Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)
- Indiana Lead-Free – Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning
LEAD RECALL INFORMATION:
To find the most recent lead recalls, go to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and conduct a search for "lead" recalls.