June Newsome, a phlebotomist with the Vanderburgh County Health Department (VCHD), is giving a lead test to 23-month-old Phoenix Brookover as she sits on her mother Brittany’s, lap.
There is no safe blood lead level, it only takes a small amount of lead to elevate a child’s levels and have negative effects.
The clinic is to ensure that children are up to date on their lead testing requirements as school starts back up.
Children under 7 that have not met the requirement will be tested. Parents can find out if their child is up to date on this test by attending the clinic or calling their child’s healthcare provider.
Children are more vulnerable to lead poisoning because their body absorbs it more readily. Lead testing can help protect children from lead poisoning.
Tamara Teague, a lab director with the VCHD said the effects of lead poisoning are severe and permanent.
“That's the big thing. It does lower IQ, it causes a decrease in the ability to pay attention. It can cause speech and hearing impairment, as well as slowed growth.”
Teague said there are no physical symptoms of lead poisoning, so the only way for parents to know if their child has been exposed to lead is to get them tested.
Deteriorating lead based paint is one of the main causes of lead exposure and houses built before 1978 may have it.
Denna Howard, environmental health specialist with the VCHD’s Lead program, said lead exposure can be prevented.
“Keeping kids away from chipping and peeling paint, if you notice things in your windows, you could put furniture in front of the windows so they just don't have access to it, washing hands well before they eat… ”
She said an iron-rich diet including fruits and vegetables can help. This is because iron binds to lead and helps remove it from a child’s system.
A High Particulate Particle Air (HEPA) vacuum can be rented from the health department. HEPA vacuums have specific filters to trap lead dust particles, which are heavy and smaller than cigarette smoke.
All children who are tested for lead at the health department during the month of August will receive a free backpack with school supplies inside.
Walk-ins are allowed, but registration through the health department website is preferred.
The clinic will be held the entire month of August from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday-Friday at the Vanderburgh County Health Department.
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More on Indiana’s Lead Testing Requirements
Indiana Department of Health Guidance and Standards for Health Care Providers states:
1. Children should receive a blood lead test between the ages of nine (9) and fifteen (15) months, or as close as reasonably possible to the patient’s appointment.
2. Children should have another blood lead test between the ages of twenty-one (21) and twenty-seven (27) months, or as close as reasonably possible to the patient’s appointment.
3. Any child between twenty-eight (28) and seventy-two (72) months that does not have a record of any prior blood lead test must have a blood lead test performed as soon as possible.