As part of Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the Kane County Health Department is recommending children living in certain parts of the county have their blood tested for lead levels.
Aurora has the largest number of children who are at an increased risk for lead exposure, mostly due to having housing that was built with lead plumbing and paint that has lead in it, health department officials said.
“This year, the IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) expanded the number of zip codes for lead reporting, so it was important for us to get the word out to public,” said Uche Onwuta, Kane County Health Department director of health protection.
The following zip codes were given the recommendations: 60505, 60506 and 60507 in Aurora, 60109 in Burlington, 60144 in Kaneville, and 60120 and 60121 in Elgin. This is an increase from Aurora having only two zip codes in the past — one in Elgin and none in the other cities.
If a child is found to have high lead levels, the health department will assist in finding out where the lead came from and ways to prevent further exposure, officials said.
Many homes in Kane County were built over 50 years ago when lead in plumbing and paint was prevalent. Onwuta said older houses can have chipping paint, water in lead pipes, lead found in the soil outside and even in children’s toys or other consumer products.
The increased number of zip codes in Aurora is due to having older houses in the city along with larger populations.
Residents should contact their medical provider to set up a blood lead screening, officials advise.
Because babies and young children grow at a rapid pace, any exposure to lead can cause growth issues, learning disabilities, hearing loss and speech and memory deficits.
More Top Picks Irlen Syndrome And Adhd How The Symptoms Overlap
“It can damage the brain and the nervous system, so it’s important that we test the homes and can intervene early so lead exposure can be mitigated,” Onwuta said.
If lead is found inside a home, programs can offer financial assistance for mitigation to homeowners and renters whose household income for a family of four is under $60,650, according to officials. If a child tests positive for having a high level of lead in their blood, the health department will automatically receive notification and will have a nurse reach out to the family.
Community programs around the county can also be contacted to provide some funding to help with mitigation, Onwuta said.