Protect Your Family from Lead
Lead is a toxic metal that can impact your child’s growth & development. Is your child at risk for lead poisoning?
Lead on the Loose
Lead is a harmful metal found in homes and products throughout rural and urban areas of Nebraska.
Children can be exposed to lead by breathing or swallowing lead or lead dust. In children, lead exposure can cause:[1]
- Brain and nervous system damage
- Learning and behavior problems
- Slowed growth and development
- Hearing and speech issues
- Lucky for parents, lead poisoning is 100% preventable. 100%
Lead may be on the loose throughout your home. Learn the first steps to recognize lead hazards in your home.
Think that your child is at risk for lead poisoning? Contact your local health department for local information and resources.
Where is Lead Hiding
in Your Home?
More than 300,000 homes in Nebraska still have lead-based paint. If your home was built before 1978, it may have lead-based paint.
Lead-based paint is the most common source of lead exposure. Before 1978, lead was a common ingredient in house paint. [2]
The older your home is, the more likely it contains lead. When lead paint breaks down over time, it creates lead dust that can contaminate the home and get on children’s hands, toys, bottles, and pacifiers.
Lead can be found throughout a child’s environment
Peeling paint and dust in homes built before 1978
Soil around a home that has lead-based paint
Dust or residue on parent’s clothing from jobs or hobbies
Older water pipes and fixtures
Some imported spices, candies, and foods
Home remedies and cosmetics from other countries
Products like glazed pottery, cookware, toys, and jewelry
Recalled goods
Keep Lead From Lurking
Take these steps to protect your child from lead:
Visit the doctor and get your child tested for lead
Keep children away from chipping and peeling paint
Wash children’s hands and toys often
Wipe down window sills and mop floors often
Get your home tested for lead
Renovate safely to avoid creating lead dust
Serve healthy foods rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin C
If your work involves lead, do not wear work clothes or shoes into the home and wash clothes separately
Get Your Child Tested
If you think your child is at risk of lead exposure, talk to your child’s doctor. A simple blood test is the only way to know if your child is exposed to lead. Most children in Nebraska should get a blood test at ages 1 and 2.
Keep Your Home Lead Safe
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Additional Resources
Think that your child is at risk for lead poisoning? Have more questions about lead? Contact your local public health department to learn more.
Adams County
South Heartland District Health Department
606 North Minnesota Ave, Suite 2
Hastings, NE 68901
Antelope County
North Central District Health Department
422 East Douglas Street
O'Neill, NE 68763
Arthur County
West Central District Health Department
111 N Dewey Street, Suite A
North Platte, NE 69101
Banner County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Blaine County
Loup Basin Public Health Department
295 North 8th Avenue, PO Box 995
Burwell, NE 68823
Boone County
Boyd County
North Central District Health Department
422 East Douglas Street
O’Neill, NE 68763
Box Butte County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Brown County
North Central District Health Department
422 East Douglas Street
O’Neill, NE 68763
Buffalo County
Burt County
Butler County
Cass County
Cedar County
Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department
215 Pearl Street, PO Box 68
Wayne, NE 68787
Chase County
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department
404 W 10th St, PO Box 1235
McCook, NE 69001
Cherry County
North Central District Health Department
422 East Douglas Street
O’Neill, NE 68763
Cheyenne County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Clay County
South Heartland District Health Department
606 North Minnesota Ave, Suite 2
Hastings, NE 68901
Colfax County
Cuming County
Custer County
Loup Basin Public Health Department
295 North 8th Avenue, PO Box 995
Burwell, NE 68823
Dakota County
Dakota County Health Department
1601 Broadway, PO Box 155
Dakota City, NE 68731
Dawes County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Dawson County
Deuel County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Dixon County
Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department
215 Pearl Street, PO Box 68
Wayne, NE 68787
Dodge County
Douglas County
Dundy County
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department
404 W 10th St, PO Box 1235
McCook, NE 69001
Fillmore County
Public Health Solutions District Health Department
995 East Highway 33, Suite 1
Crete, NE 68333
Franklin County
Frontier County
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department
404 W 10th St, PO Box 1235
McCook, NE 69001
Furnas County
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department
404 W 10th St, PO Box 1235
McCook, NE 69001
Gage County
Public Health Solutions District Health Department
995 East Highway 33, Suite 1
Crete, NE 68333
Garden County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Garfield County
Loup Basin Public Health Department
295 North 8th Avenue, PO Box 995
Burwell, NE 68823
Gosper County
Grant County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Greeley County
Loup Basin Public Health Department
295 North 8th Avenue, PO Box 995
Burwell, NE 68823
Hall County
Central District Health Department
1137 South Locust Street
Grand Island, NE 68101
Hamilton County
Central District Health Department
1137 South Locust Street
Grand Island, NE 68101
Harlan County
Hayes County
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department
404 W 10th St, PO Box 1235
McCook, NE 69001
Hitchcock County
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department
404 W 10th St, PO Box 1235
McCook, NE 69001
Holt County
North Central District Health Department
422 East Douglas Street
O’Neill, NE 68763
Hooker County
West Central District Health Department
111 N Dewey Street, Suite A
North Platte, NE 69101
Howard County
Loup Basin Public Health Department
295 North 8th Avenue, PO Box 995
Burwell, NE 68823
Jefferson County
Public Health Solutions District Health Department
995 East Highway 33, Suite 1
Crete, NE 68333
Johnson County
Kearney County
Keith County
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department
404 W 10th St, PO Box 1235
McCook, NE 69001
Keya Paha County
North Central District Health Department
422 East Douglas Street
O’Neill, NE 68763
Kimball County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Knox County
North Central District Health Department
422 East Douglas Street
O’Neill, NE 68763
Lancaster County
Lincoln County
West Central District Health Department
111 N Dewey Street, Suite A
North Platte, NE 69101
Logan County
West Central District Health Department
111 N Dewey Street, Suite A
North Platte, NE 69101
Loup County
Loup Basin Public Health Department
295 North 8th Avenue, PO Box 995
Burwell, NE 68823
Madison County
McPherson County
West Central District Health Department
111 N Dewey Street, Suite A
North Platte, NE 69101
Merrick County
Central District Health Department
1137 South Locust Street
Grand Island, NE 68101
Morrill County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Nance County
Nemaha County
Nuckolls County
South Heartland District Health Department
606 North Minnesota Ave, Suite 2
Hastings, NE 68901
Otoe County
Pawnee County
Perkins County
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department
404 W 10th St, PO Box 1235
McCook, NE 69001
Phelps County
Pierce County
North Central District Health Department
422 East Douglas Street
O’Neill, NE 68763
Platte County
Polk County
Red Willow County
Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department
404 W 10th St, PO Box 1235
McCook, NE 69001
Richardson County
Rock County
North Central District Health Department
422 East Douglas Street
O’Neill, NE 68763
Saline County
Public Health Solutions District Health Department
995 East Highway 33, Suite 1
Crete, NE 68333
Sarpy County
Saunders County
Scotts Bluff County
1825 10th Street
Gering, NE 69341
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Seward County
Sheridan County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Sherman County
Loup Basin Public Health Department
295 North 8th Avenue, PO Box 995
Burwell, NE 68823
Sioux County
Panhandle Public Health District
808 Box Butte Avenue, PO Box 337
Hemingford, NE 69348
Stanton County
Thayer County
Public Health Solutions District Health Department
995 East Highway 33, Suite 1
Crete, NE 68333
Thomas County
West Central District Health Department
111 N Dewey Street, Suite A
North Platte, NE 69101
Thurston County
Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department
215 Pearl Street, PO Box 68
Wayne, NE 68787
Valley County
Loup Basin Public Health Department
295 North 8th Avenue, PO Box 995
Burwell, NE 68823
Washington County
Wayne County
Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department
215 Pearl Street, PO Box 68
Wayne, NE 68787
Webster County
South Heartland District Health Department
606 North Minnesota Ave, Suite 2
Hastings, NE 68901
Wheeler County
Loup Basin Public Health Department
295 North 8th Avenue, PO Box 995
Burwell, NE 68823
York County
Disclaimer: This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement number NUE2EH001364, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.