The Cayuga County Health Department has launched a campaign to stop lead poisoning in children.
The department says that three out of four homes in the county were built before 1978, when the federal government banned lead paint from homes, meaning there’s an increased risk of children getting lead poisoning, especially as lead-based paint chips and forms dust.
The No Home for Lead campaign seeks to raise awareness about the aforementioned statistics and let the public know that lead poisoning is 100% preventable.
“Childhood lead poisoning continues to be a significant public health problem in Cayuga County,” said Kathleen Cuddy, Cayuga County Public Health Director. “The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program will help us improve the environments that children live in by reducing lead exposure.”
Through the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, those expecting a baby or with a child six and under at their home or one who frequently visits can get a free home assessment or lead testing for their child.
To register, you can call the Cayuga County Health Department at 315-253-1560.
