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| Lead
Prevention Programs in Kane County |
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Lead poisoning is entirely preventable.
The key is stopping children from coming
into contact with lead and treating
children who have been poisoned by
lead. The goal is to prevent lead
exposure to children before they are
harmed. There are many ways parents can
reduce a child’s exposure to lead. Lead
hazards in a child’s environment must be
identified and controlled or removed
safely. |
● There are a number of
programs available to assist Kane County
families with lead-based paint hazards.
Both homeowners and renters are
eligible, but must meet certain income
requirements (i.e. household income for
a family of four cannot exceed
$60,650). Work is based on the results
of a risk assessment and is performed by
lead-licensed contractors.
To help us connect
you to the appropriate resources,
please email
 .
Be sure to include your name, address,
phone number, and whether you rent or
own your home.
Click Here for more information. |
| ● The Kane County
Health Department has a
Childhood Lead Prevention Program to
report, track, and refer children with
high blood levels for treatment. The
program also provides education to
individuals and the community, to help
raise awareness of the causes of
childhood lead poisoning. |
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Prevention Tips |
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How are children exposed to lead? |
| Lead-based paint and
lead contaminated dust are the main
sources of exposure for lead in U.S.
children. Lead-based paints were banned
for use in housing in 1978. All houses
built before 1978 are likely to contain
some lead-based paint. However, it is
the deterioration of this paint that
causes a problem. Approximately 24
million housing units have deteriorated
leaded paint and elevated levels of
lead-contaminated house dust. More than
4 million of these dwellings are homes
to one or more young children. |
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Who is at risk? |
| All children under the
age of 6 years old are at risk because
they are growing so rapidly and because
they tend to put their hands or other
objects, which may be contaminated with
lead dust, into their mouths. However,
children living at or below the poverty
line who live in older housing are at
greatest risk. Additionally, children of
some racial and ethnic groups and those
living in older housing are
disproportionately affected by lead. |
| Read more
HERE |
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| Kane
County Health Department provides
information about lead safety in the
home |
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The
most important aspect of
lead poisoning prevention
is by eliminating exposure to lead |
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 Blood
lead screenings can identify
children at risk and allow doctors to
provide prompt treatment.
People who
live in homes built before 1978 are
especially encouraged to undergo a
screening to have their blood lead
levels tested. |
 Contractors
working on homes with lead paint are
required to follow the EPA’s Renovation,
Repair, and Painting lead law
(RRP).
RRP provides guidelines for
protection against renovation activities
that can disturb lead dust such as
sanding, cutting and demolition.
Link |
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| Resources |
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The Illinois Department of Public Health
(IDPH) and Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) can provide you with information
about lead poisoning, treatment, and
current prevention efforts in Illinois. |
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IDPH provides a factsheet about
childhood lead poisoning, as well as
information about the Illinois Lead
Prevention program. |
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The CDC webpage provides lead prevention
tips, national data, statistics, and
surveillance, policies related to lead,
and a lead prevention tip of the day. |
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CDC Lead Page |
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EPA Lead Page |
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Illinois State Lead Code |
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IDPH Lead Page |
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IDPH Lead Fact Sheet |
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Leadfreekids.org |
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Lead Poisoning - CDC |
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Sources of Lead - CDC |
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Recalls - that might include
lead-based food and items |
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