What is lead poisoning?

Consumer Product Safety Commission Information Related to Lead

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Video Clip (requires RealPlayer® to view, to download RealPlayer click on the button below) Text Transcript

Lead poisoning is a disease that can cause serious health problems, such as brain and kidney damage, coma and even death. Even small blood lead levels can lead to learning problems and hyperactivity. You should be concerned if your child tests at even a low level; any level of lead in the blood is a concern.

Signs of lead poisoning may not be present or may be though of as the flu. However, some symptoms could include:

• Stomach ache and/or cramps
• Low energy
• Headache and irritability
• Poor appetite

Who is at risk?

Children from birth to 6 years are at a high risk for lead poisoning because they absorb a much higher amount of lead. Their growing bodies are more likely to be damaged by lead. Pregnant women, people living in poverty and/or living in housing built before 1978 are also at high risk.

Tennessee Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (TCLPPP)

The TCLPPP is a collaboration headed by the Tennessee Department of Health and receives funds from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goal is to protect Tennessee's children from lead poisoning and to promote among all populations the knowledge and skills needed to prevent lead poisoning.

Program Goals

• Monitor blood levels in children less than 6 years of age
• Test children at 12 and 24 months
• Increase number of children screened
• Follow up on children with high levels of lead in the blood
• Increase public awareness of the dangers of lead

Program Partners

• Tennessee Department of Health
• University of Tennessee Extension
• Memphis and Shelby County Health Department
• Sullivan County Regional Health Department
• Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department
• Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Contact our partners.

Program Links

Statistics

2005 TN CLPPP Children Screened and Confirmed Elevated - Laboratory Reporting data only

2002-2004 TN CLPPP Children Screened and Confirmed Elevated

Lead Prevention Quarterly Newsletters

Advisory Committee Information

• Meeting Minutes
  • September 23, 2005
  • April 26, 2005
  • January 27, 2005
  • June 30, 2004
  • November 20, 2003

Brochures & Publications

Press release/PSA/Articles

Lead Week 2006

• Press Release
• Press Release (en español)
• Making Lead Poisoning History Poster
• Making Lead Poisoning History Poster (en español)

For more information about the UT Extension Health & Safety programs, please contact your local County Extension FCS Agent .