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August 15, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2016
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan has begun to see an increase in the percent of children under age 6 with an elevated blood lead level (EBLL) during quarter two, April through June 2016.
Exposure to lead is higher in warmer months for a variety of reasons, including increased contact with lead dust from inside and outside the home due to exposure from lead painted surfaces such as windows, porches, and siding. Children can also be exposed while playing outside in leaded soil and in rare instances, be exposed to drinking water with lead present.
Although, as expected, the percent of young children with EBLL was higher in the second quarter of 2016 than the first quarter throughout Michigan, among some communities, including such as the cities of Flint, Detroit and Grand Rapids, as well as Jackson County, the rise in the second quarter in 2016 appeared higher than in previous years. MDHHS is working with local health departments to look into potential reasons for the increase, such as increasing awareness of health care providers about lead testing, changes in testing patterns, and changes in environmental exposures.
“While it’s not unexpected to see seasonal increases in lead levels, we’re working very closely with our local health department colleagues to help address and better understand these increases,” said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. “With the warmer weather in Michigan earlier this year, it’s also important that parents take steps to help reduce their child’s exposure to lead.”
Each local health department is working to identify the cause for the increases and ways to address EBLLs as a whole in their communities:
The Detroit Health Department has increased blood lead testing within the city since April to help identify children with EBLLs and provide services. The Detroit Health Department is offering lead testing at the Family Place located at 8726 Woodward Avenue in Detroit and the Samaritan Center at 5555 Conner Street in Detroit free of charge, and recommends that all children under the age of 6 be tested annually.
The Genesee County Health Department is working within their community to increase blood lead testing and provide education to families and pregnant women about ways to reduce exposure to lead. Federal and state partners have expanded a variety of services to all Flint residents. Walk-in lead screening is available at McCree South 630 S. Saginaw Street in Flint and expanded screening through WIC for eligible children and pregnant women at G-3373 S. Saginaw Street in Burton.
The Kent County Health Department is working with MDHHS to identify potential causes for the increase in their EBLLs.
The Jackson County Health Department is working closely with their health care provider community to ensure blood lead testing, monitoring and follow-up services are provided to children under the age of 6 and their families, as well as maintaining a focus on pregnant women to decrease the potential for lead exposure and poisoning. They are also working closely with city of Jackson officials and local landlords and homeowners to facilitate access to resources for assessment of lead based paint hazards and follow-up abatement or mitigation actions.
Tips for Reducing and Removing Lead Exposure:
In housing built before 1978, it can be assumed that the paint has lead unless tests show otherwise.
Take precautions to limit your child’s access to peeling paint or surfaces with known or assumed lead-based paint.
Children and pregnant women should take extra precautions during the renovation of housing built before 1978. Homeowners and contractors should be using lead safe work methods such as plastic barriers, HEPA equipped vacuums, plastic to catch paint dust and chips, and daily cleaning.
A Lead Safe cleaning guide is available at michigan.gov/leadsafe.
Regularly wash children’s hands and toys. Hands and toys can become contaminated from household dust or exterior soil.
Regularly cleaning by wet-mopping floors and wet-wiping window sills and window wells every two to three weeks.
Take shoes off outside before entering the house helps to prevent bringing lead-contaminated soil in from outside.
Until soil is tested, prevent children from playing in bare soil. Plant grass on areas of bare soil or cover the soil with grass seed, mulch, or wood chips.
Until the bare soil is covered, move play areas away from bare soil and the sides of the house.
Some other items can include lead coatings such as, pottery, cookware, or tableware that is often used to store or cook food. These items can be tested.
Check and remove recalled toys and toy jewelry immediately from children.
Use only cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking, and making baby formula. Hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead.
Shower and change clothes after finishing a task that involves working with lead-based products such as stained glass or lead bullets.
For residents looking to have their home tested for lead, call 866-691-5323(LEAD) or 517-335-9390. A lead testing professional can test all things inside and outside your home that may have lead and could harm your family. A report will be sent to you with all the test results, and explain how to fix the areas or items where lead is a problem. In some cases, residents will qualify for the Lead Safe Home Program to help remove lead painted windows and other lead hazards in the home. Visit www.michigan.gov/leadsafe for more information.
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