{"id":16033,"date":"2025-10-17T10:00:51","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T14:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=16033"},"modified":"2025-10-17T10:00:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T14:00:51","slug":"rhhd-shares-tips-for-preventing-childhood-lead-poisoning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/archived-news-releases\/2025-regional-news-releases\/rhhd-shares-tips-for-preventing-childhood-lead-poisoning\/","title":{"rendered":"RHHD Shares Tips for Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>October 17, 2025<\/p>\n<p><strong>Media Contact:<\/strong> Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, <a href=\"mailto:bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov\">bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>RHHD Shares Tips for Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 19-25<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>RICHMOND, Va.<\/strong> \u2013 Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage community members to take steps to prevent childhood lead poisoning. These steps include talking to a healthcare provider about testing children for lead poisoning and testing for lead in homes built before 1978. Oct. 19-25 is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/lead\/national-lead-poisoning-prevention-week#:~:text=This%20year%2C%20National%20Lead%20Poisoning%20Prevention%20Week%20%28NLPPW%29,to%20lead%20by%20increasing%20lead%20poisoning%20prevention%20awareness.\">National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Know the dangers of lead poisoning.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even at low levels, lead interferes with normal brain development and may cause reduced intelligence, behavioral problems, and learning disabilities in children. Children who have lead poisoning may not show any early signs or symptoms. Having your child tested is the only way to know if they are lead poisoned.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Talk to a professional about lead testing.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The RHHD <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/lead-safe\/\">Lead Safe Program<\/a> provides lead education, screening, and lead risk assessments and inspections for lead poisoned children. Please call 804-205-3726 for more information.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/2024\/05\/20\/what-does-it-mean-to-speak-to-a-medical-provider\/\">Talk to your healthcare provider<\/a> or explore RHHD\u2019s list of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/primary-care-richmond-and-henrico-health-districts\/community-pediatricians-accepting-medicaid\/\">local pediatricians<\/a> if you have questions about lead testing for children. Use this <a href=\"https:\/\/cdxapps.epa.gov\/ocspp-oppt-lead\/firm-location-search\/distance\">tool<\/a> from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to locate a Lead-Based Paint Professional in your area.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Take these steps to help prevent lead poisoning at home and work:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wet-clean floors and windowsills regularly.<\/li>\n<li>Wash children\u2019s hands and toys frequently.<\/li>\n<li>Be aware of chipping paint.<\/li>\n<li>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/lead\/lead-safe-renovations-diyers\">lead-safe practices<\/a> to make sure painted surfaces are maintained or repaired.\n<ul>\n<li>Improper paint repairs could create more hazardous lead poison conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Be aware of toys, jewelry, dishes, pottery, and foods that may contain lead.<\/li>\n<li>Be aware of hobbies or jobs that may involve working with lead, including:\n<ul>\n<li>Stained glass making<\/li>\n<li>Pottery<\/li>\n<li>Painting<\/li>\n<li>Construction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Consider the following factors when assessing your child\u2019s risk of lead poisoning:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Older homes can contain lead-based paint and hazardous lead dust levels.<\/strong> Homes built before 1978, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/enforcement\/epa-enforces-lead-based-paint-laws-protect-you-and-your-family\">the year the EPA banned lead-based paint<\/a>, may still contain lead paint. Young children are most at risk for lead poisoning through lead dust and lead paint exposure.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lead can exist in water pipes<\/strong>. Richmond residents can contact the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rva.gov\/public-utilities\/leadfreewater#:~:text=Richmond%E2%80%99s%20drinking%20water%20does%20not%20contain%20lead%20when,portion%20is%20owned%20by%20the%20property%20owner%20%28private%29.\">Lead Free Water Program<\/a> for more information. Henrico residents can contact the <a href=\"https:\/\/henrico.gov\/services\/lead-service-line-replacement-program\/\">Lead Service Line Replacement Program<\/a> for more information. A new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/ground-water-and-drinking-water\/lead-and-copper-rule-improvements\">federal rule<\/a> requires drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lead can exist in bare soil.<\/strong> New homes may be built on lots that still have lead dust in the soil. Families should limit the amount of time children play in bare soil, keep outside toys outside, and encourage hand washing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nutrition can provide some protection from lead poising.<\/strong> Children who get enough food\u2014and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/nutrition.pdf\">especially iron, vitamin C, and calcium rich foods<\/a>\u2014are less likely to absorb high levels of lead. RHHD offers access to healthy foods for children through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/wic\/\">WIC Supplemental Nutrition program<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/rhhd.gov\/\">rhhd.gov<\/a> for more health and safety information. Follow RHHD on Instagram (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/richmondcity_hd\">@richmondcity_hd<\/a>) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RichmondHenricoHealthDistricts\">Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>###<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>October 17, 2025 Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov &nbsp; RHHD Shares Tips for Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 19-25 \u00a0 RICHMOND, Va. \u2013 Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage community members to take steps to prevent childhood lead poisoning. These steps include talking to a healthcare provider [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":258,"featured_media":0,"parent":12292,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[1278,1277,682],"class_list":["post-16033","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","tag-lead-safe-program","tag-national-lead-poisoning-prevention-week","tag-richmond-and-henrico-health-districts"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>RHHD Shares Tips for Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning - Newsroom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/archived-news-releases\/2025-regional-news-releases\/rhhd-shares-tips-for-preventing-childhood-lead-poisoning\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"RHHD Shares Tips for Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning - Newsroom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"October 17, 2025 Media Contact: Bryan Hooten, 804-807-1727, bryan.hooten@vdh.virginia.gov &nbsp; RHHD Shares Tips for Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 19-25 \u00a0 RICHMOND, Va. \u2013 Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage community members to take steps to prevent childhood lead poisoning. 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