HUD AND OTHER IDAHO ORGANIZATIONS URGING PARENTS TO TEST YOUNGSTERS FOR LEAD POISONING
Lead is Number One Health Hazard for Children Under Age Six

BOISE - The Boise Field Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is joining with over 30 housing, health, and community development organizations across Idaho which makes up the Idaho Healthy Homes Network in reminding people how they can help address the number one environmental health hazard for children under the age of six - Lead Poisoning.

As part of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week from October 19th to 25th, Idaho and its communities plan to make official proclamations and to conduct various education and awareness events.

Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter, for example, has issued a proclamation urging all Idahoans to remember that lead poisoning is "entirely preventable." Building permitting agencies are receiving brochures entitled "Lead Safety During Renovation", Public Service Announcements will run statewide, and EPA is hosting a Lead Hazards Outreach Booth
at the Boise Fall Home Expo, just to name a few.

"HUD is committed to eliminating the threat of childhood lead poisoning from our nation's housing stock," said HUD Boise Field Office Director William Jolley. "And we want to thank Governor Otter for working with us, and proclaiming October 19th to 25th as Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. The good news is that lead poisoning is easily and entirely preventable. Thanks to the Governor and the efforts of our partners, we’re going to try to make sure every Idahoan knows that."

Even low levels of lead can cause learning disabilities, lowered IQ, speech delay, and hearing impairment. Today, childhood lead poisoning is considered to be the most preventable environmental disease of young children, yet an estimated 310,000 U.S. children have elevated blood lead levels. A simple and safe blood test can prevent a lifetime spoiled by the irreversible damage caused by lead poisoning.

The key is stopping children from coming into contact with lead and treating children who have been poisoned by lead. If you live in a home built before 1978 with peeling or chipping paint, have recently remodeled a home built before 1978, or suspect exposure to other sources of lead, talk to your doctor about a blood lead test for your
child. The test should be conducted on children between the ages of 12 and 24 months as well as on children between the ages of 36-72 months of age who have not previously been tested. The state’s Medicaid program and most health insurance plans cover lead testing. To learn how to protect your children from lead poisoning, call the Idaho CareLine at 2-1-1.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities;
creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly,
people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is
available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.