Clinical & Other Direct Services

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention

Health Department staff address childhood lead poisoning in a variety of ways, including providing screenings, overseeing treatment and working to remove lead risks in homes. Staff work together towards the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning.

Lead is a harmful element that is toxic to the human body even in tiny amounts. Every year, many children in Kentucky are affected by lead poisoning. Learn more about lead and its health effects.

Screening

Every child should be tested by his or her primary care provider for lead poisoning at ages 9 to 12 months and again at age 24 months. Children with a higher risk should be tested more frequently. A Health Department nurse works to manage the cases of any children found to have high blood lead levels.

Information regarding lead test results: English, Spanish

Investigation

Staff from the Health Department conducts investigations for possible causes when a child is found to have high blood lead levels.

Education and outreach

Health Department staff collaborate with community groups and state and federal agencies to provide education around childhood lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning prevention and properties

Nearly all lead poisoning cases in Northern Kentucky are associated with buildings that were built prior to 1978 and contain lead-based paint. This includes many buildings in the cities of Bromley, Ludlow, Covington, Latonia, Newport, Dayton and Bellevue.

To reduce the risk of childhood lead poisoning, the following are recommended:

Ask about lead before buying or renting. The owner must disclose known information about lead-based paint hazards
Owners or renters should be careful when restoring or renovating homes built before 1978. Certain guidelines are in place for lead hazard abatement, when lead levels are known to be above safe levels, and lead-safe work practices. For more information, call 859-341-4151.

Covington’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program

The City of Covington is looking for homes to participate in its first-ever Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program.

The goal of the three-year, federally-funded $1.66 million program is to protect children and vulnerable adults from potential health risks from deteriorating paint in homes and apartments built before 1978.

Homes found to have lead-based paint hazards will be assigned a contractor who will repair or replace affected areas, which might include plaster, baseboards, windows and doors, and other trim pieces.

The information packet and application are below. For further information, call Covington’s Neighborhood Services Department at (859) 292-2323.

Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program Guidelines-Application Packet

Additional information:

City of Covington website
City of Covington attacks lead-based paint; new $1.66 million program accepting applications (2019, August 16). Northern Kentucky Tribune. Retrieved from https://www.nkytribune.com/2019/08/city-of-covington-attacks-lead-based-paint-new-1-66-million-program-accepting-applications/

Lead in Drinking Water

On behalf of the Northern Kentucky Water District and the Kentucky Division of Water, we would like to share some important information regarding the risk of lead in school water supplies after an extended closure.

Lead in Drinking Water at Schools

When a building such as a school has been vacant over a period of time, even a long weekend, water sits in the plumbing of the building and water fountains. The longer the water is stagnant in the lines, the greater the chance of a decrease in water quality. If lead materials are present in the building plumbing, higher levels of lead can result from the stagnation.

The following links provide ways to flush the plumbing system of school buildings. Performing these additional steps can help ensure that the drinking water in school buildings is safe for consumption. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mary Carol Wagner, Water Quality Manager, at (859) 441-0482.

Here are some additional resources:
* EPA’s main page for lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities: https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/lead-drinking-water-schools-and-childcare-facilities

* Reference guide for schools that have their own water supply: Link Here

* EPA’s 3Ts Toolkit for reducing lead in drinking water at schools: Link Here

* Webinars for community water systems related to lead in schools and child care facilities: https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/webinar-series-case-studies-about-reducinglead-drinking-water-schools-and-child-care

A PDF of “Lead in Drinking Water at Schools” can be viewed here.