• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / It’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

It’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

October 27, 2006 By admin

This is Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and health officials are urging parents across Iowa to get their children tested for elevated lead levels. Kara Vogelson, the healthy homes coordinator at the Cerro Gordo County Health Department, says there are many possible causes for lead poisoning.

Vogelson says older paint in older homes is a big problem but when a child gets a lead test done there’s a risk questionnaire that covers a host of other possibilities and may determine how often a child should be tested. Typically, she says every child should be tested twice before age six.

Vogelson says adults can also be affected by lead poisoning, but the danger to children is far worse. She says in adults, it’s usually lead poisoning from a job or a hobby but in children, it’s usually exposure over time as they’re around the lead dust or they’re running their toys through the lead paint on window sills. It effects children differently from adults as lead poisoning can interfere with the their growing and learning processes.

Vogelson has suggestions for parents on keeping their kids safe, though she says the most important step is testing. Tips include: washing hands before meals, watching what children put in their mouths, making sure their toys are clean, and making sure they’re not eating non-food items like dirt or rocks.

Vogelson says it’s wrong to assume lead poisoning usually strikes lower-income people as she says it can be a risk for every child, regardless of their family’s economic status.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine

Featured Stories

Exhibit features lesser known works of Grant Wood

Testing finds 21 new CWD cases in deer

It may become a crime in Iowa to use fake urine in workplace drug tests

February trending 18 degrees below average temperature

Iowa House Education Committee votes to end tenure at UI, ISU, UNI

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa’s Jack Nunge lost for the season

Key stretch begins for #9 Iowa

Drake’s Roman Penn lost for the season

Drake’s DeVries named to Naismith watch list

State wrestling opens with limited attendance

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC