The Allegheny County Health Department Wednesday released its inaugural report on lead levels in children.
Lead is a neurotoxin commonly found in our daily lives, and lead exposure can come from multiple sources: pre-1978 lead paint and dust, water from lead pipes, soil, ceramic plates, bowls, and glasses, and imported candy, toys, cosmetics, and jewelry.
Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children.
Findings of the lead report include:
-- Blood lead levels among the county’s children are, on average, going down.
-- The percentage of all children with an elevated blood lead level of 5 µg/dl (micrograms per deciliter) is going down, although it has not changed significantly over the last year.
-- The number of children under 6 years of age that are being tested is going up significantly, thanks to the countywide requirement enacted last year, and implemented in January; projection of more than 23,000 children tested in 2018, which is more than double the number of children tested in 2010.
-- More children are getting their capillary tests confirmed with a venous test.
-- There are still communities with significantly higher numbers and percentages of children with confirmed blood lead levels of 5 µg/dl or above.
Click Here for a copy of the report.
“I was honored to be asked by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald to serve as Chair of the county’s Lead Task Force in 2017. One of our recommendations of the was to provide regular reporting on the issue to the public, and we are proud to present this first ever annual lead report that fulfills this recommendation,” said Health Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker. “The findings in this report demonstrate progress, but there is still work to be done, as far too many children are still at risk for lead exposure.”
The Health Department’s lead exposure strategy includes surveillance, prevention, education through its “Get Ahead of Lead” campaign, and intervention.
For any child under the age of 6 with a confirmed lead level of 5 µg/dl or above, the Health Department offers a free lead home investigation.
Blood lead level testing is also offered at two Health Department locations, and is free to those that are uninsured and underinsured.
In addition, Allegheny County Economic Development provides supplementary resources to make your home lead safe through its Allegheny Lead Safe Homes Program.
For more information about lead exposure in Allegheny County, visit the Approach To Lead webpage.
Pittsburgh Water Authority
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has a drinking water testing program for lead required by the Department of Environmental Protection due to lead levels above the drinking water standards.
The Authority is also replacing customer lead water service lines to lower lead levels.
Visit the Authority’s Lead In Your Drinking Water webpage or call the Lead Help Desk at 412-255-08987 to learn more about our lead line replacement programs.
For more information on lead in drinking water, visit DEP’s Lead In Drinking Water webpage.
Senate Lead Task Force
In October 2017, the Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 33 sponsored by Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), the Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee that created a statewide Senate Lead Task Force and Advisory Committee under the direction of the Joint State Government Commission.
The Resolution requires the Task Force to report to the Senate in 18 months-- by April 2019.
The Joint State Government Commission Senate Resolution Project Manager is Yvonne Hursh, Counsel, and she can be contacted by calling 717-787-1906 or send email to: yhursh@legis.state.pa.us.
For more information on lead exposure, intervention and education, visit the Department of Health’s Lead Poisoning webpage.
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