ELIMINATING LEAD POISONING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY.
Lead poisoning is untreatable, but almost entirely preventable. Learn more about how you can play a role in making your children and our community lead safe.
PARENTS
Have your child tested for exposure to lead. By NYS law, children must be tested at age 1 and again at 2.
HOMEOWNERS
Have your home professionally tested for lead if it was built before 1978.
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
Healthcare professionals need to make sure children are tested for exposure to lead at age 1 and again at 2 in accordance with New York State Lead Laws.
EDUCATORS
Teachers and educators often face the consequences of childhood lead poisoning in their classrooms. If you suspect lead poisoning, check your student’s file to see whether there is any documentation of an elevated blood lead level.
CONTRACTORS
Use Lead Safe Work Practices when doing any renovation or repair work that disturbs any painted surface.
MUNICIPALITIES
Any community with structures built before 1978 needs to think about how to keep families safe from lead poisoning. Learn more about how our region has used policy change to create safer communities.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
The effects of lead poisoning are serious—and permanent. But there are steps you can take to reduce the risk and protect your child’s future. Know the symptoms of lead poisoning: headache, stomachache, irritability, fatigue, loss of appetite, and joint pain. Ask your child’s healthcare provider for a blood test to check for lead. The longer lead remains in the body of a young child, the higher the risk of permanent damage.
Get Your Child Tested
The symptoms of lead poisoning aren’t always easy to see. That’s why New York State Law requires all children to be tested for exposure to lead at age one and again at two.
Know Their Results
No level of lead has been found to be safe. If your child tests positive for lead, talk to your healthcare provider about what their blood lead test results mean.
Request A Free Home Inspection
If you rent or own a home in the City of Rochester, call 585-428-6520 to request a free lead inspection. Renters, it’s your landlord’s responsibility to make sure your home is lead safe.
Wash Hands Frequently
Wash your child’s hands with soap and water—not hand sanitizer—before eating and after playing to reduce the risk of swallowing lead dust.
Eat the Right Food
Don’t skip meals—an empty stomach increases the risk of absorbing lead dust. Foods high in iron and calciumcan also help lower your child’s lead poisoning risk.
Use Lead-safe Cleaning
Wet-mop with detergent and water at least three times a week. Take your shoes off when inside. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA Filter. And wash your child’s toys daily.