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Family & Consumer Sciences

Health & Safety - Environmental Health

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

What is lead poisoning?

Consumer Product Safety Commission Information Related to Lead
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Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Video Clip
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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

Contact our partners.

Program Links

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Housing & Urban Development
Sullivan County Regional Health Department - Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation - Lead-Based Paint Abatement Program
Tennessee Department of Health - Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
US Environmental Protection Agency - LEAD Awareness Program

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

2008

2007

2006

2005

Winter Winter Winter Winter
  Spring Spring Spring
  Summer Summer Summer
  Fall Fall Fall

Advisory Committee Information

Brochures & Publications

Press release/PSA/Articles

Lead Week 2006


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

Program Resources for FCS Agents

News & Announcements

June 10, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - The Children's Place Recalls Camouflage Pajama Sets Due to Excessive Lead -- Recall Notice Release #08-302

June 3, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Children's Jewelry Recalled By Daiso Due to Risk of Lead Exposure -- Recall Alert #08-578

May 29, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - QuinCrafts Children's Jewelry Recalled Due to Risk of Lead Exposure -- Recall Notice Release #08-294

May 27, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Batting Helmets Recalled by Rawlings Sporting Goods Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard -- Recall Alert #08-575

May 22, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Floppy Friends Horse Toys Recalled by Toy Investments Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard -- Recall Notice Release #08-285

May 22, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - American Scientific Recalls Magnets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard -- Recall Notice Release #08-284

May 22, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - United Scientific Recalls Magnets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard -- Recall Notice Release #08-279

May 22, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Sure Grip Paint Brushes Recalled by Early Childhood Resources Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard -- Recall Notice Release #08-283

May 22, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Disney Store Recalls Tinker Bell Wands Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard -- Recall Notice Release #08-282

May 22, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - West Music Recalls Shaker Guiro Instruments Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard -- Recall Notice Release #08-280

May 22, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Disney Store Recalls Pirates of the Caribbean Sleeping Bags Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard -- Recall Notice Release #08-278

May 20, 2008 - US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Master Toys & Novelties Inc. Recalls Little Rider Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard -- Recall Notice Release #08-272

Family & Consumer Sciences
119 Morgan Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-4501

Martha Keel , PhD
Professor & Extension Housing & Environmental Health Specialist
Phone: (865) 974-8197
E-mail: mkeel@utk.edu

Courtney Niemann, MS
Extension Assistant/Health Educator
Phone: (865) 974-8178
E-mail: cniemann@utk.edu