By auburnpub
The National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is celebrated every year in the month of October. The week is Oct. 22-28 this year.
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is a week dedicated to raising awareness about lead poisoning and reducing childhood lead exposure. It is a good time to emphasize the various ways that parents, caregivers, and communities can prevent children from being exposed to lead.
It is an heavy metal added to our paints in order to make them more durable, resist moisture, and brighten the colors. However, lead was toxic and particularly dangerous for young children. The U.S. Government banned most lead-based painting in 1978.
Why should this date matter to me? Three out of every four Cayuga County homes were constructed before 1978. There is 75% likelihood that your home has lead.
You can search for your address on the Image Mate Online database at no cost by visiting the Cayuga County Real Property Services site. This information is likely to be in the title records of your house, such as your deed, if you are a homeowner.
What should you do, if the house in question was constructed before 1978? It depends. Check the condition of painted elements in your home, such as door and window frames. Lead is unlikely to pose a health risk if the paint remains intact. When lead-based paint flakes, chips or peels off with age, it becomes a serious health concern. Lead-based paint and dust that they produce can be a health risk for children both inside and outside of the home. Children can become lead poisoned by placing their hands into their mouths when they have touched something that has lead dust on.
Lead exposure is more likely to occur in children under 6 because they are still developing their bodies and are therefore more vulnerable. Lead can damage vital organs such as kidneys and the brain, and also nerves and cells in the blood. Lead can also lead to behavioral issues, learning disabilities and seizures, or even death in severe cases. Lead poisoning can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, and irritability. Lead poisoning in children can be a silent illness.
Only by testing a child can you be sure if they have been exposed to the toxic substance lead. Simple blood tests can be used to detect lead poisoning. A small amount of blood from the finger or vein is all that’s needed. New York State requires children to have a lead blood test at age 1 and again at 2 years old. Children aged six months to six years should have additional lead blood tests if they are living or visiting an older building with lead-related issues, for example, peeling paint or chips, ongoing renovations, remodeling, etc. Contact your doctor or the Cayuga Health Department (315)253-1560 if you suspect your child may have been exposed to lead.
Lead poisoning can be prevented. You can protect your family and home from exposure to lead by taking some simple steps.
Cayuga Health Department is committed to eliminating lead from your home. You may have seen our bus and billboard ads or seen us on Facebook. You can use our program to create a house that is No Home for Lead.
You are entitled to a free lead assessment if you live in an older house or apartment or if you have children under 6 who are living with you, or visiting you regularly. We will check for lead in chipping or peeling paint during an assessment and show you how to prevent yourself and children from exposure to it.
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