HOME |Hunterdon County Department of Public Safety | Public Health Nursing | Lead Screeenings Last Updated April 01, 2013
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING
	Blood Pressure Monitoring Programs Childhood Vaccine Program Communicable Disease Reporting Lead Screenings Lyme Disease Investigations Pregnancy & Prenatal Care School Immunization Audits Women's Healthcare Program Public Health Professional Resources Community Resources Brunch and Learn CONTACT US HUNTERDON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING Route 31 County Complex 6 Gauntt Place PO Box 2900 Flemington, NJ 08822-2900 PHONE; 908-806-4570 FAX: 908-806-5503 George Wagner, Director Tadhgh Rainey, Division Manager Shu-Chen Chiang, Division Supervisor	HUNTERDON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Public Health Nursing   LEAD SCREENINGS Shu-Chen Chiang, RN (right) tests a child for lead at a WIC clinic in Flemington.           Mission : Promote health and prevent lead poisoning Lead is a toxic metal that was used for many years in paint and other household products. Houses built before 1950 are at higher risk of being a lead hazard because the use of lead-based paint in housing was fairly common.  Lead poisoning is a concern in Hunterdon County because of the large number of older homes. Click here to view a map that shows municipalities with housing units built before 1950 in Hunterdon County. Young Children have a higher risk for lead poisoning because: their bodies absorb lead more easily than an adult; they put their hands and other objects into their mouths; and children’s brains and nervous system are more sensitive to damaging effects of lead. In Children, lead can cause: Nervous system and Kidney damage Learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and decreased intelligence Speech, language, and behavior problems Poor muscle coordination Decreased muscle and bone growth Hearing damage Seizures, unconsciousness Sources of Lead: Lead-based paint (windows, doors, stairs, railings, porches, some toys) Water: lead water pipes, lead solder Soil: lead-based insecticides Food: grown of lead pollution soil, packaged in cans with lead seams, stored in leaded crystal or poorly glazed pottery Other sources: drapery and window weights, antique pewter, battery casings, some herbal medicines and cosmetics some porcelain and pottery some imported candies dust or fumes form hobbies such as staining glass and target shooting fishing weights  Lead soldiers and other collectible figurines What you can do to protect your family Get your young children screened for lead If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint Clean up paint chips immediately Use only cold water for drinking and cooking Run water for 15-30 seconds before drinking it Wet mop to clean floors, window frames, window sills and other surfaces regularly Wash children’s hands and toys often Keep a safe play area that does not contain any of lead hazards Keep children from chewing window sills or other painted surfaces Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead from soil Make sure children eat nutritious, low-fat meals high in iron and calcium Lead Screening: New Jersey State law requires All children have their blood tested for lead at age 1 year and again at age 2 years. Children between the ages of 3-6, who have never been tested, should be tested. High-risk children need to be tested more frequently. Public Health Nursing & Education provides free capillary finger stick lead screening for children of low income families.  For an appointment please call 908-806-4570. For more lead Information: The national lead information center visit www.epa.gov/lead or            www. Hud.gov/offices/lead Lead Recalls please check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead New Jersey Online Lead Safe Housing Registry www.njleadsafe.info American Lead Poisoning Health Association, www.alphaleadfree.webs.com Lead Safe NJ program www.state.nj.us/dca/dcr/leadsafe/leadmaps.html New Jersey Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund www.state.nj.us/dca/dcr/leadsafe/finan_assist.html Toxic Treats - Lead Poisioning in Candy and other Foods. Health officials have detected dangerous levels of lead in 112 distinct brands of candy – most of them made in Mexico. One in four candy and wrapper samples have come up high since 1993, records show. But much of this information about tainted candy has been kept from parents and public health workers. Download an Informational Poster from the Orange County Register in PDF format - ENGLISH POSTER or SPANISH POSTER   Click here for PHOTOS OF CANDIES FOUND TO CONTAIN LEAD
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