Public Health Lead Services
Preventing Exposure to Lead
- We monitor for the prevalence of lead in the community and provide recommendations to prevent lead poisoning.
- Our laboratory tests water and paint or varnish samples for lead.
- We enforce the City of Madison lead ordinance, Madison General Ordinance 7.49, to make sure that property owners and contractors follow safe work practices when painting or remodeling older housing.
Supporting Childhood Screening for Lead Poisoning
- We help families with lead screening for children 9 months to 6 years who are unable to be screened by a private medical provider.
- We provide education and consultation to medical providers about childhood lead poisoning.
Helping Families When a Child is Lead Poisoned
A child is considered lead poisoned if they have a blood lead level of 5 µg/dL (microgram of lead per deciliter of blood) or greater. Depending on a child's blood lead level, we provide a range of services to families. Services include:
- A lead risk assessment of the child's primary residence and risk assessment of other properties as appropriate.
- Consultation on managing lead hazards in the home.
- Public health nurse case management to assess child development and assure appropriate medical care.
Resources
-
Guide to Lead-Safe Painting or Remodeling Projects, Public Health Madison and Dane County
- How to Clean Windows Properly, City of Milwaukee
- Certified Companies Offering Lead Abatement Services, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- Lead-Contaminated Chicken Eggs and Other Foods, Public Health Madison and Dane County
- Lead-Based Paint Safety Guide, US Department of Housing & Urban Development
- Protect Your Family From Lead, Environmental Protection Agency
- School and Childcare Recommendations for Minimizing Lead in Drinking Water, Public Health Madison and Dane County, July 2017