Lead Exposure

Overview

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Overview
  • Lead is a naturally occurring metal that can negatively affect a person’s health. 
  • People can be exposed through food or water contaminated with lead, eating lead paint chips, or ingesting lead dust that may be on their hands. 
  • Children who are under 6 years old are at the highest risk of adverse long-term effects. 
  • IMPORTANT: Anyone who suspects that they or their child may have been exposed to lead, should get a blood lead test. 

Before 1978, lead was commonly used found in paint used in houses. Lead-based paint was banned in the United States for use in house paint, products marketed towards children, and dishes or cookware. Therefore, children living in older homes are at an increased risk of lead exposure. It is estimated that 50% of North Dakota homes were built before 1978. 

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Ways to Prevent Lead Exposure (click to learn more)

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Ways to Prevent Lead Exposure (click to learn more)

  • Handwashing reduces the likelihood of exposure after contact with lead-contaminated surfaces. 

  • Use a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter to keep lead dust from being moved throughout the home. 
  • Wet wipe windowsills, door frames, and floors.
  • Clean play areas, toys, and toy containers.

  • Lead poisoning can occur through ingesting lead paint chips or dust, so it is important to limit a child’s contact with a contaminated surface.

  • Lead may be tracked in the house if exposed to lead-contaminated soil, workplace lead sources, or hobby-related lead sources. 

  • If you suspect that your water is lead-contaminated, contact the N.D. Department of Environmental Quality. 
  • For best practice, run your water for 1 minute before use.
  • Use cold water when making formula for infants to limit potential lead exposure.

  • Cover bare soil with grass, mulch, or wood chips to limit lead exposure.
  • Get soil tested if you suspect that it is contaminated with lead.

  • Occupations at higher risk of lead exposure include, but are not limited, to working with stained glass, painting, soldering, automobile battery manufacturing or recycling, vehicle radiator repair, house painting/remodeling, autobody work and repair. 
    • These occupations may cause take-home lead exposure. 
    • Take-home lead exposure occurs when the worker tracks the lead from work into the household.

  • Lead bullets can cause lead fragments to contaminate the game when hunted. 
  • Use copper bullets to limit any chance of lead contamination in the hunted game.

  • Be cautious lead crystal, pewter, pottery, or ceramics made in the U.S. before 1978 or made in other countries that are used for cooking, storing, or serving food or beverages.
    • Lead may be in the glaze of older pottery or ceramics, or in pottery or ceramics made outside the U.S. 
    • Lead may contaminate food or beverages by encountering these lead-based glazes. 
    • Lead-based glazes are used to allow for a glass-like finish that allows for bright colors to show.

  • Products that have been recalled for potential lead-contamination are reported on the CPSC website.
  • Check the "Recall" area of CPSC.gov

  • Be cautious of products made outside of the United States such as vinyl mini-blinds, cosmetics, color crayons, toys, canned foods, pottery or ceramics, spices, candies, etc.
  • Lead is still used in many countries, so it is important to be aware if any of these products have lead in them.
  • Spices from Georgia (country), Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and Morocco tend to have the highest lead content.
  • Other examples of products typically with high lead content include imported chili powder and tamarind, ba-baw-san, Daw Tway, Ghasard, Kohl, kajal, al-Kahal, surma, tiro, tozali, and kwalli. 

Lead Exposure in the NEWS

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Lead Exposure in the NEWS

Additional Resources about Lead

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Additional Resources about Lead
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Data & Statistics

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Data & Statistics

The North Dakota Lead Poisoning Prevention Program collects test results from all blood lead test performed across the state. A confirmed case for an elevated blood lead test is defined as a venous test result greater than or equal to 3.5 µg/dL. A probable/suspect case is a capillary test result greater than or equal to 3.5 µg/dL.

A Data Dashboard is COMING SOON

  • Monthly MAP from previous year
  • Confirmed/probably cases
  • Case County from last 5 years