Did you know that about 70% of the housing in Allegany County was built before 1978? These homes are more likely to contain lead-based paints, which were banned for residential use in 1978. Sanding and scraping paint in these older homes can release lead dust. A child can get lead poisoning by swallowing paint chips with lead or breathing in dust from lead paint. Lead poisoning can cause problems with a child’s growth, behavior, and ability to learn. Lead can also harm babies before they are born.

Lead exposure can also happen from other sources:

• Dust from soil contaminated with lead
• Drinking water delivered through lead-based pipes, faucets or plumbing fixtures
• Some candy and candy wrappers
• Lead-glazed pottery
• Some toys, jewelry, makeup, antiques and collectible items (especially from Middle East, Latin America, South Asia, China)

A tiny amount of lead can harm a young, growing child. Infants and young children absorb more of the lead that enters their bodies than adults. Lead poisoning in a child can lead to life-long problems, including chronic health problems, learning disabilities, increased need for special education services, and poor life choices.

In Allegany County, the occurrence of confirmed high blood lead levels for children less than 5 years old is 28.5, higher than the average for children tested throughout Western New York (2017-2020 NYS Child Health Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, data as of October 2022). In 2022, the percentage of Allegany County children who had their blood lead level tested at age 2 years, 60.67 percent and at age 1 year, 63.17 percent shows more children may have lead poisoning that goes undiagnosed (NYSIIS; New York State Immunization Information System).

Lead poisoned children may not look or act sick. Some children may have symptoms such as:

• Headaches, stomach-aches, dizziness or throwing up;
• Muscle and joint weakness or pain;
• Reduced attention span, tiredness or trouble sleeping;
• Metallic taste in the mouth;
• Constipation or loss of appetite;
• Loss of weight, irritability or crankiness.

Parents often miss these signs because they go away quickly or look like other illnesses such as the flu. Only a blood test can tell for sure if a child has too much lead in their body. New York State requires healthcare providers to test all children for lead at age 1 year and again at age 2 years. It is a good reminder for parents to ask your doctor to test your child for lead.

For more information visit our website at https://www.alleganyco.gov/departments/health/childrens-programs/ to view our quick tip videos about lead poisoning prevention. Or call the Allegany County Department of Health at 585.268.9250.