DPH Emphasizes Dangers of Lead Exposure and How to Prevent It for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Oct. 26, 2026

COLUMBIA, S.C. — During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (Oct. 25-31), the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) encourages residents to learn the dangers of lead exposure and how to protect themselves and their families from it. The theme for this year’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is “Keep Kids Safe from Lead."

Get the Facts: Lead is a naturally occurring element, but exposure to it can cause serious harm to people, especially children. Although items such as leaded gasoline and household paint containing lead are no longer sold in the United States, lead can still be found in everyday environments. It’s most frequently found in paint and plumbing in older homes as well as in contaminated dust and soil. Some toys, especially those that are imported or are antique toys and toy jewelry, may contain lead.

Lead can enter the body through breathing in lead dust, ingesting paint chips, dust or soil that contains lead or drinking water contaminated with lead.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood exposure to lead can cause long-term harm. Adverse effects of lead exposure include damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and hearing and speech problems.

“While lead poisoning is preventable, some of the effects of exposure to this toxic metal can’t be undone,” said Paxton Brown, DPH Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Manager. “That is why it is critical to educate parents and caregivers about the risk of lead exposure and how to best prevent children from encountering lead. Prevention is key.”

Get Your Child Tested: Simple blood tests that check lead levels are often performed by pediatricians during children’s wellness visits, usually the 12- or 24-month visits. Parents or guardians should talk to their child’s healthcare provider if they have questions or concerns about their child and lead exposure. Blood tests may be required for adults in occupational settings where there is a potential to be exposed to lead.

Lead test results in South Carolina are reported to DPH. If the test detects lead in the blood, the healthcare provider will provide guidance to their patient.

For children under the age of 16 who meet DPH's referral criteria, a DPH nurse will contact the family to learn how the child may have been exposed to lead and to provide education and case management to the family. For children under the age of six, DPH staff who are certified lead risk assessors may conduct an environmental lead assessment at the child's home to identify lead hazards. Identified lead hazards can then be remediated.

Get Your Home Tested: Housing built before 1978, and especially housing built before 1960, may contain lead-based paint. The only way to know is by having the home tested. Assume that the paint has lead, unless tests show otherwise. DPH recommends the following steps to prevent lead exposure at home:

• Make sure your child does not have access to chipping or peeling paint or chewable painted surfaces;
• Regularly wet-mop floors and wet-wipe window sills and horizontal surfaces to remove dust;
• Regularly wash children's hands and toys, especially after exposure to household dust or exterior soil and before eating;
• Do not let children play with recalled toys, toys manufactured before 1978, and vintage and antique products that may contain lead-based paint.
• Discourage children from chewing on plastic toys;
• Provide sandboxes or cover bare soil with grass, mulch, or wood chips in outdoor play areas;
• And avoid dry scraping, dry sanding, and stripping lead paint with heat or chemicals as doing so can spread lead contamination. Lead paint removal should only be done by professionals.

To learn more about lead exposure, visit the DPH website or call 1-866-4NO-LEAD (1-866-466-5323).

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