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Danielle Brechter

NP
Director

Address:

Suffolk County Department of Health Services
Immunization Action Program
Building 300
3500 Sunrise Highway, Suite 124
P.O. Box 9006
Great River, New York 11739-9006


(631) 854-0215
FAX 631-854-0235

Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Banner

Lead is a poison. Childhood lead poisoning is a major, serious BUT PREVENTABLE health problem. Young children crawl and play on the floor, and are always putting things in their mouths. These behaviors expose them to lead. Ingestion of lead is the main mode of exposure in children. Exposure to lead may cause negative and/or severe health effects that include delayed growth, reduced IQ, and learning and behavior problems for your child; and even during pregnancy to your unborn child.


Where can Lead be Found?

Old Lead Painted Bathroom

Lead is a poison and can be found in places and things we may not normally think as dangerous. The most common source of lead poisoning is found in chipping paint in houses built before 1978. But lead can be in other places, such as in contaminated dust, soil, and water. Lead can also be found in certain ceramic pots, toys, materials used in hobbies such as stained glass, certain imported cosmetics, and certain traditional folk medicines/remedies. Below you will find is a list of products that have been recalled because they contain lead.

 


Who is at risk?

Young children, especially from 6 months to 6 years, are most at risk for lead poisoning. However, Pregnant women and their unborn children are also at risk for lead poisoning. If you are pregnant, you should stay away from areas, foods and items that may contain lead. If you may have been exposed to lead, ask your doctor about getting tested.

In 2018, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services CONDUCTED 37 Investigations regarding Lead Poisoning in Children

13 cases involved blood lead levels (BLL’s) of greater than or equal to 15ug/dl

17 cases involved blood lead levels (BLL’s) less than 15ug/dl

3 cases involved child day care centers

4 Secondary locations where the child spends > 8hrs./week

ACTIONS TAKEN:

12 cases were issued Notice of Demands (NOD’s) for the discontinuance of conditions

condusive to lead poisoning, 5 Notice of Demand’s were satisfied

5 cases are currently undergoing lead based paint abatement activities

5 cases are undergoing legal action for failure to comply with NOD’s

In addition to lead based paint, other sources found to cause lead poisoning from these investigations include:

  • Leaded glazes on pottery leaching into food
  • The use of Kohl/Surma imported eye make-up, imported medications and herbs
  • A child wearing a lead amulet bracelet
  • Contaminated spices

What should you do to prevent lead poisoning?

Because lead poisoning is serious, New York State requires Health Care Providers to test all children for blood lead levels at ages 1 and 2, and up to age 6 based on risk assessment.

Talk to your doctor and have your child tested!

Lead paint is in old houses and sometimes in new toys. Houses built before 1978 should be checked for Lead paint. You should wash your hands immediatly if you come in contact with lead paint, soil and other sources. For the latest in toy recalls, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission If you suspect your house or apartment has lead, contact a lead inspector or your landlord.

To reduce blood lead levels, there are other steps you can take the following steps:

  • Contact the Suffolk County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program to find out about home safety tools and recalls on items and toys, especially if your home was built before 1978.
  • Use a damp mop or cloth to clean surfaces in your home, and wash your child’s hands, pacifiers, and toys often to remove any lead.
  • Don’t use certain home remedies or cosmetics that contain lead. Examples of these include arzacon, greta, pay-loo-ah, kohl, and alkohl.
  • If something you do exposes you to lead, for example certain hobbies or your work, take simple steps such as changing your clothes before entering your house, or showering before when you arrive home. Keep contaminated clothes, boots, etc. out of the reach of your children.
  • Services Provided by the CLPPP as recommended by the New York State Department of Health
  • Case management when a child’s blood lead levels are elevated as recommended by the New York State Department of Health. Community outreach and education about lead poisoning and prevention to health providers and various homes and organizations.

 Resources:

Recall of Sandford Family 6-Player Croquet Sets

Recall Alert: The United States Consumer Product Safey Commission has recalled Sandford Family 6-Player Croquet Sets branded with either Garden Games or Big Game Hunters on the storage bag. The set includes four adult mallets; two winning posts; one red and blue children’s mallet; six balls, clips and hoops, and a storage bag. The storage bag is branded with either a Big Game Hunters logo on a blue bag or a Garden Games logo on a green bag.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled family croquet sets, and contact DOM Sports for information on how to email a photo of the recalled product being disposed of to support@domsports.com to receive the free replacement parts. DOM Sports and Amazon are contacting all known purchasers.

Consider testing children for lead exposure from these and other sources.

Click here for more info

Recall of Lead Contaminated Applesauce Pouches Expands to Two More Brands: FDA

The recall of applesauce pouches that contained elevated levels of lead has expanded to two more companies.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that packets of Schnuck brand and Weis brand applesauce had been contaminated with lead.

The Schnuck packets were manufactured by Austrofood SAS which used "cinnamon raw material" with elevated levels of lead, according to a press release from Schnuck Markets Inc. The manufacturer of the Weis brand packets is not identified on the company's recall page.

This comes on the heels of an investigation by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that found elevated lead levels in the blood of four children with a shared exposure to the previously recalled WanaBana apple cinnamon pouches.

The FDA advised parents who believe their child may have consumed the recalled products to "contact their child’s healthcare provider about getting a blood test."

Click here for important information.

Highlight

NYS Dept. of Health

Beware of Lead!

Link available to inform NYS residents regarding Lead.
Please see below under the New York State Department of Health Website. Beware of Lead!
Do YOU know
where it may be hiding?

Consumer Warnings


Suffolk County Government

H. Lee Dennison Bldg

100 Veterans Memorial Hwy
P.O. Box 6100
Hauppauge, NY 11788

Riverhead County Center

County Road 51
Riverhead, NY 11901