Arkansas Department of Health offers programs, tips for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Officials with the Arkansas Department of Health and other agencies are planning public events for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

The week runs from Oct. 19 to 25 this year. It aims to highlight how parents and caregivers can reduce childhood lead exposure and prevent its serious health effects.

ADH officials stated that the agency is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in this awareness-raising initiative.

Three events are planned in Little Rock, where ADH staff will be present to provide information on lead exposure.

• Friday, October 24: City of Little Rock Employee Health Fair, Little Rock, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Thursday, October 30: Big Boo!seum Bash, Witt Stephens Jr. Nature Center, Little Rock, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Saturday, November 1: Vestido Rojo, Gujarati Samaj of Arkansas (GSA), Little Rock, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Officials explained that lead has been banned from use in paint and gasoline since the 1970s, after it was determined that lead exposure, especially in children, can lead to brain and nervous system issues. Pregnant women can also be harmed by lead exposure, leading to premature births, smaller babies and even miscarriages.

Even a small amount can have a profound impact, officials said. They pointed to homes constructed before 1978, when lead-based paint was used, as a source of lead poisoning. They referred to an ADH website that provides information on lead abatement companies and personnel, including those who can test for lead in the home. 

Lead abatement should only be left to licensed professionals, ADH officials said.

Officials added that water in older homes can be contaminated due to the use of lead in the solder used to join plumbing pipes. The EPA has information on lead in drinking water.

For more information, contact the Arkansas Lead-Based Paint program at 501-671-1472 or the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD.