Wyoming wants more lead testing

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Begins Sunday October 23
The WyomWyoming Department of Health says that there is no safe blood lead level and no cure for lead poisoning, testing for lead exposure and taking steps to help prevent harmful effects are recommended for Wyoming’s kids.
Forrest Sharp, Blood Lead Prevention Program manager and epidemiologist with WDH said that even low levels of lead can harm a child.
Blood lead tests are recommended for children between the ages 12 months and 24 months, children with other family members exposed to lead and pregnant women who think they may have been exposed to lead.
Sharp said he’d like to see higher testing rates because childhood lead exposure can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavior problems, slow growth and development, and hearing and speech problems.
Children are primarily exposed to lead through lead-based paint, lead-contaminated soil and lead-contaminated drinking water.
For more information about lead testing and prevention recommendations in Wyoming, please contact Sharp at forrest.sharp@wyo.gov or 307-777-5606.
 
 

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