Lead Surveillance
News and Alerts
- 12/04/07 - Test Results Show Children’s Jewelry Sold In Vermont Contain High Levels of Lead
Lead Resource Guide
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.
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 results with your physician.
For additional information about the health effects of lead, or to report a high lead level, call the Health Protection Division’s Lead Surveillance Program, at (802) 865-7786 or, toll-free from within Vermont, 1-800-439-8550.
Additional Information from the U.S. EPA - Lead in New England