Childhood Lead Poisoning

Childhood lead poisoning is a significant problem in Wisconsin. Wisconsin consistently ranks in the top 10 states in the nation for number of lead-poisoned children. Lead exposure in young children can negatively impact a child's development; studies show that lead exposure in children can cause reduced IQ, learning disabilities, reduced attention span, developmental delays, and other health and behavioral effects. Most exposure to lead occur in homes or child care centers built prior to 1978 that have chipping or peeling lead-based paint and lead-tainted dust in homes where renovation has been done without using lead-safe work practices. The resources below provide an overview of the damaging effects of lead on children throughout this lives.