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Lead Poisoning Prevention
Consumer Product Recalls due to Lead Hazards
Please visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the US Food and Drug Administration’s Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alert to review notices for products that have been recalled due to violation of lead paint standards.
Current Recalls:
The Health Department's Role
All healthcare providers in Connecticut are required to conduct universal blood lead testing annually in children younger than 3 years old. Typically, most providers test at 12 months and 24 months of age during well-child visits. If children were not previously tested, providers will test children between 3 and 6 years old, regardless of risk. Providers also test those children older than 6 years old if they have developmental delays (especially if associated with pica).
The Norwalk Health Department conducts lead poisoning prevention and control efforts through its Housing Program. The Housing Section uses trained and certified staff to conduct epidemiological investigations and lead inspections.
Once the Health Department receives notification of a child with an elevated blood lead level (3.5 mcg/dL [micrograms per deciliter] or more), staff will send the parents/guardians an informational packet along with a letter explaining retesting requirements.
If a child has a confirmed blood lead level of 15 mcg/dL or more OR two confirmed blood lead levels between 10-14.9 mcg/dL taken 90 days apart, the Health Department will conduct an epidemiological investigation and paint sampling from all deteriorated and/or accessible surfaces in a home. These samples are then submitted to the Connecticut Department of Public Health for laboratory analysis.
As part of routine housing code inspections or as a result of a complaint investigation, the Health Department will also conduct lead inspections in homes where children younger than 6 years old reside. The Department also provides educational material about lead upon request.
It is important to remember that there is no safe blood lead level. The Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Program’s primary focus is to reduce and eliminate childhood lead poisoning through primary prevention and the assistance of local health care providers.
Lead Poisoning Prevention in Housing
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provide this information sheet outlining considerations for property owners, landlords, renters, home buyers, and home sellers.
If you are a property owner and landlord, programs may be available to help you keep your property safe and in compliance. For more information, contact the CT Department of Public Health representative for our region.
Lead Poisoning Prevention in the Workplace
More Information about Lead
The Connecticut Department of Public Health’s Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Program offers several helpful fact sheets, including those listed below. Additional fact sheets, as well as information in many other languages (e.g., Spanish, Chinese, French, Vietnamese, Polish, Bosnian, Farsi, Russian, Urdu, Arabic, Somali, Hindi, and Portuguese), can be found on its (Prevention Resources) page.
- Reducing Lead Hazards in the Home (English) (Spanish)
- Preventing Lead Dust: Inside and Out (English) (Spanish)
- Seven Facts about Lead-Based Paint (English) (Spanish)
- Tips for Cleaning Lead Dust (English) (Spanish)
- Eating Right Helps Fight Lead Poisoning
- Imported Home Remedies & Medicines and Lead Poisoning
Resources For Kids
- Henry and Fred Lead About Lead (YouTube)
- Adventures of the Lead Busters Club (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
Other Resources