Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is emphasizing the importance of awareness regarding health risks from lead exposure during Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which runs from October 20 to 26. Governor JB Pritzker has issued a proclamation urging public awareness about the dangers associated with lead exposure. He highlighted that the primary sources of lead exposure in Illinois are lead-contaminated dust and lead-based paint in homes built before 1978, the year such paint was banned.

"Lead poisoning can cause long-term harm and the sooner it is identified, the better chance we have of treating it and reversing its effects," said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. "There is no safe level of lead exposure. During this Child Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and every week, IDPH will remain vigilant with our local partners in helping children and their families who are at risk receive the help they need."

Children face significant health risks from lead exposure, including brain and nervous system damage, slowed growth and development, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems. Despite the ban on lead-based paint in 1978, over 3.3 million homes in Illinois were built before that year, with approximately 1.2 million potentially still containing some form of lead hazard.

To address these concerns, IDPH manages a statewide lead-testing program targeting high-risk ZIP codes. This initiative has been expanded annually with plans for universal testing for infants and toddlers by 2026. In 2023 alone, more than 200,000 children were tested for lead exposure in high-risk areas across Illinois; over 3,200 had elevated blood lead levels.

These children receive case management services to identify and remove sources of contamination. The current intervention threshold is a blood lead level of five μg/dL (micrograms per deciliter). However, starting January 1, 2025, Illinois will adopt a stricter standard recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), requiring intervention at levels of 3.5 μg/dL or higher.

IDPH also administers the Comprehensive Lead Education Reduction And Window Replacement Program (CLEAR-WIN), offering grants to local health departments for property owner assistance with lead abatement efforts. Current grant recipients include health departments in Christian County, Ford County, Lee County, Montgomery County, and Winnebago County.

For further information on CLEAR-WIN or IDPH's initiatives against harmful lead exposure visit their respective websites.