Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Jasper County Health Department runs a Childhood Lead Prevention
Program funded by the EPA. This program provides free case
management and environmental services to Jasper County families who
have children with elevated blood lead levels and also provides
blood lead testing for children between the ages of 6 and 72 months
and for pregnant or nursing mothers. Testing is provided at the
Jasper County Health Department, the Joplin City Health Department,
and even at the home of the client if transportation is a concern.
An appointment is needed for this test. We are also available to
participate in Health Fairs and other public events and can offer
lead testing on site.
Children should have a lead test once a year beginning at 6 months
of age until they reach 6 years of age. This is recommended because
of the tendency of children in this age group to put many items in
their mouths and to have poor hand washing habits. Lead enters the
body through hand-to-mouth activity or through ingestion from
another source. It can also enter the body by being inhaled in dust
form. This is seen most often in adults who are conducting
remodeling activities. Children, however, who are present when these
activities are taking place, are likely to find a way to ingest lead
dust created by these activities. For example, if an adult was
sanding old lead paint which was creating a dust, a 9 month old
child may crawl across the floor and get the dust on their hands.
From here a child of this age is highly likely to put their fingers
in their mouth and get lead into their system. Other common sources
of lead poisoning are lead contaminated soil, chipping or peeling
paint in the home or a residence the child visits frequently, water,
or even toys.
Blood lead tests are important because there is no other way to
confirm that a child has lead poisoning. Many of the symptoms of
lead poisoning are often confused with symptoms of other illnesses.
If lead continues to enter the body and/or is present within the
body for a long period of time, it may cause lasting harm to the
brain, kidneys and nervous system.
The blood lead test consists of taking a very small venous blood
sample. If there is difficulty in locating a good vein for this
purpose, a finger prick sample may be obtained; however, the venous
sample is preferred because it is more accurate and often faster and
less painful for the child. If the lead level in the blood is found
to be greater than 10 micrograms per deciliter, the Childhood Lead
Prevention Program will offer case management services until the
child receives two consecutive blood tests below this level.
Case management services consist of a home visit by our lead nurse
who will provide lead education and also, our environmental health
specialist for the lead program will offer an environmental
assessment of your property. This includes testing of the soil,
paint, water and dust on the property for lead contamination to
determine where the child may have come into contact with lead. It
is very important for the family to know the source of lead in order
to prevent the child from becoming poisoned further. Once the
sources of the lead are determined the environmental specialist can
work with the family to help find ways to make the problem areas
inaccessible to the child or to give advice on proper control and
abatement measures.