In Case of Emergency

If a child has severe symptoms of lead poisoning, such as vomiting or seizures, get immediate help by calling 911.  If a child is suspected of being exposed to lead, make an appointment with the child's health care provider or county health department to have a blood test done.

What makes a Lead-Safe Home?

Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that is lead-based. Lead from paint chips and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly.

Children are most often poisoned by the lead dust that comes from deteriorated lead paint in older homes. Lead dust can come from disturbing lead paint, opening and closing windows, and through the normal wear and tear of painted areas. Lead dust falls to the floor and gets on children's hands and toys. It enters their bodies when they put their hands or toys into their mouths.

Lead poisoning can cause health and behavior problems in children. It can make it harder to learn when they are at school. Lead poisoning can affect a child for a lifetime. The good news is there are things that can be done to keep children safe from lead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did You Know...

The Healthy Homes Coalition can help reduce lead hazards in the home.

Resources

Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home(1.5 MB)

Check Your House for Lead(324 KB)

Guide to Lead Safe Cleaning(1.3 MB)

Lead Paint Safety

News & Events

Lead Poisoning Rate Rises for Second Year in a Row in Kent County

After a decade of decline, the number of lead-poisoned children in Kent County has risen for the second year in a row. Recent data released by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) shows a 40 percent increase in lead-poisoned children in the 49507 zip code during the past two years.

According to the data, 617 Kent County children had elevated blood-lead levels in 2016 – the most recent year for which data is available.

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Parents Meet to Discuss Rising Lead Poisoning Rates in 49507

Why lead poisoning is on the rise in Kent County, and particularly in Grand Rapids – and what can be done about it – was the subject of discussion and debate at the Oct. 30 event held at Dickinson Academy on Grand Rapids’ southeast side.

When Grand Rapids resident LyRee Adams’ young daughter tested positive for lead a decade ago, she later learned the poisoning likely occurred from lead-based paint flaking from windows in the home she was renting. She immediately got appropriate medical care for her daughter before the child was permanently harmed – and Adams also went directly to her landlord and worked with him to get the lead hazard out of the home.

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Kent County Lead Poisoning Task Force Work Continues

The 16-member Kent County Lead Poisoning task force continues to meet to investigate ways in which the County can work towards elimination of lead poisoning

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