Yreka, CA – The Siskiyou County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) Coordinator announces plans to celebrate Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 23rd-29th, with a week-long information campaign about childhood lead poisoning issues. Our campaign message this year is, “Protect your family from lead in drinking water, especially during lead service line replacement.”
Lead poisoning can seriously affect a child’s brain and nervous system. It can cause learning and behavioral problems. A blood lead test is the only way to identify lead poisoning in children. "The purpose of this campaign is to remind parents that lead poisoning can be detrimental to young children’s health and development. It's important for parents to ask their child’s doctor about blood lead testing,” stated Aaron Stutz, M.D., Siskiyou County Public Health Officer.
In California, children can be exposed to lead by ingesting lead-contaminated dust, paint chips from deteriorating lead-based paint, and lead-contaminated soil. If homes have water lines with lead in them, the lead can get into drinking water, especially while these lines are being replaced. Other sources of lead poisoning include lead dust brought home on parents' work clothes, certain imported ceramic pottery, painted objects, traditional home remedies, traditional cosmetics, and imported spices, candies, and other food products. Additionally, activities that involve lead products such as soldering, making stained glass, and handling bullets or fishing sinkers can put children at risk.
All parents and caregivers of young children are encouraged to learn how to protect their children from this silent and serious environmental disease. Background materials are available upon request at (530) 841-2134
For more information on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, community members can contact Angie McKnight, LVN, Childhood Lead Prevention Program Coordinator at (530) 841-2125
