Lead Poisoning Prevention and Surveillance
- About Lead
- Lead News and Alerts
- Lead Resource Guide - Your comprehensive guide to lead poisoning prevention information, resources and technical assistance
- Annual Report to the Legislature
- Contact the Lead Surveillance Program
Henry and Fred Learn about Lead
This book and video teaches young children the dangers of lead poisoning, and how they can protect themselves.
About Lead
Lead is a highly toxic metal that has been commonly used in many household, industrial and automobile products, including paint, solder, batteries, brass, car radiators, bullets, pottery, etc.
Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for infants, children and pregnant women. Too much lead in the body can cause damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system and red blood cells.
People who work in jobs that involve lead (such as sandblasting old paint or manufacturing lead-acid batteries) are at risk of lead poisoning. Workers can also bring lead home on shoes and work clothes, thereby placing family members at risk.
Young children are at highest risk because their developing bodies absorb lead more easily. Lead dust exposure can have life-long health effects such as lowering a child’s IQ. In adults, lead can cause high blood pressure, increase the risk of miscarriage for pregnant women, and result in decreased fertility in men.
The only way to find out if someone has been exposed to too much lead is by a blood test. All children should be tested for lead at ages one and two. Your healthcare provider may advise you to have your children tested more often.
If you are an adult who works with lead, we recommend that you get a blood test to learn how much lead is in your bloodstream and that you discuss the resultswith your physician.
See our Lead Resource Guide for information and resources about protecting children from lead, lead-safe work practices, essential maintenance practices requirements for landlords, guidelines for blood lead screening for health care providers, and more.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has additional resources about lead in New England.
For more information, or to report a high lead level:
Call the Lead Surveillance Program
1-800-439-8550 (toll-free within Vermont)
1-802-865-7786
News and Alerts
Alerts and Advisories
Recalls
- Lead Recalls - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Recall.gov - National recalls, product concerns, and safety tips
News
- Real Estate Transactions - New regulations in effect July 1, 2008
- Parent/Guardian Survey (06/08)
- Department of Health News Releases
Henry and Fred
To order a free copy of the book Henry and Fred Learn about Lead:
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You can also read the book online