Lead Safe By 2010 > For Health-care Providers

Healthcare providers need to make sure children are tested for exposure to lead at ages one and again at two in accordance with New York State Lead Laws.

	Lead Education
When parents or guardians bring a child for a well child visit, provide anticipatory guidance to parents by warning them of the risks associated with lead poisoning and educate them about identifying and remedying hazards before a child gets poisoned. BLL Tests: Make sure blood lead level tests are taken at 12 and 24 months (and on additional visits if the results pose a concern). The New York State Dept of Health reports that: Children may be exposed to lead at any time, including after the time at which they were initially tested. Therefore, while an initial test at the appropriate age is important, a second testing is also important. In general, children more actively explore their environment as their mobility increases between the ages of one and two. In addition, some children may have changed residences or regularly spent time at a different address that has lead hazards. New York Statewide Comparisons Children born between 1994 and 1999 and whose initial blood lead level test (by 12/31/1999) showed no elevated lead levels (<10ug/dL) were evaluated to determine if a second test was done. A total of 992,902 children initially tested and found to have a non-elevated blood lead levels were eligible to be tested a second time. Just over one-third, or 320,083 of these children received a second test by 12/31/2001. Of those, 25,286 (8%) were found during the second test to have an elevated blood lead level of 10 ug/dL or higher (including confirmed and unconfirmed test results). This finding demonstrates the importance of a second blood lead level test even if an initial blood lead level test is negative. Consider Primary Prevention through Environmental Testing: Offices providing care to a large proportion of high-risk children may inquire about participating in ABC's Lead Resource Center (585) 325-7550. Parents of children living in high-risk housing should be offered a visual inspection and dust wipe sampling. Tenants and homeowners can contact the City of Rochester at (585) 428-LEAD to request a FREE inspection for lead hazards and for more information on the Lead Ordiance that went into effect in July 2006. Quick Reference List of Local Lead Poisoning Information and Resources (pdf)