Amanda Farley’s home in Polk serves her family’s needs well. Her four children have space to play and they love their schools.
After seven years in their rental home, Farley’s pediatrician performed a state-mandated lead test on her one-year-old daughter. The results were startling. Her daughter’s level registered at 17 micrograms (μg/dL) per deciliter of lead in the blood.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a level of five or above is concerning.
“Some people were saying that’s the highest they have ever seen in their career,” Farley said.
The pediatrician’s report alerted the Ohio Department of Health to take action because the level was so high. Health department personnel took eight hours to test the Farley home with an X-ray fluorescent gun and discovered lead throughout the upstairs baseboards, doors, windows and frames. A thorough cleaning with a hepa vacuum and wet cleaning products took place.
“The levels went down immediately after the cleaning,” Farley said.
The fact sheet displays lead poisoning statistics for the Ashland County Health District.
The Ashland County Health Department and Help Me Grow program followed up to talk with Farley about further reducing her child’s exposure to lead.
According to 2015 Ohio Department of Health data, of the Ashland children 6 years old and younger that were tested for lead levels in their blood, 505 children tested 0-4 μg/dL, nine were 5 to 9 μg/dL, and two children had blood lead levels of 15 to 19 μg/dL.
“There is no safe lead level in blood,” Ashland County Health Department Nursing Director Shirley Bixby, RN, BSN. “It’s best to find it early and take care of it.”
Since lead poisoning threatens families living in homes built before 1978 when lead-based paint was outlawed, certain procedures can be put in place. In Ashland County, the zip codes 44805, 44842, and 44851 are identified as high-risk for lead exposure.
“When we do case management, I go into the home and talk with parents about how we can reduce lead exposure,” Bixby said.
When levels are 5 to 9, the state will conduct a home visit and alert the appropriate county. Ashland County provides case management when lead levels are at a 10 or above, but Bixby often intervenes earlier and provides information via phone.
Bixby advised Farley to run the faucet for a few minutes before pouring a glass of water. Recommended cooking methods include potting cold water and then boiling it because hot water from the faucet is more likely to include traces of lead.
Nutrition is an important component of treatment. Eating foods rich in iron and Vitamin C every two hours combats lead absorption. Frequent hand washing and carrying baby wipes help lower exposure risks as well.
“We eat greens with almost with every meal,” Farley said. “She has always done that, but now she has more portions.”
The Farleys received a letter with written instructions about proceeding with a lead abatement process using a qualified contractor within 90 days. The only problem was that Amanda and her husband do not own their home. They notified their landlord and filed an extension so that her children did not have to miss school.
“It’s really been such a heartache on us,” Farley said.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers funding opportunities for both landlords facing lead removal and tenants being displaced throughout the two-week process. However, Farley’s landlord choose not to utilize this assistance for religious reasons, thereby Farley said is ineligible for assistance as well. The lead abatement will take place this June.
Before renting or buying, Farley recommends that families ask their landlord for a lead-based paint disclosure.
Federal law mandates that landlords disclose any known lead-based paint hazards.
“It would have been helpful to do my research and know what I was walking into,” Farley said.
Lead poisoning is especially harmful to young children. Exposure can cause brain damage, learning disabilities, hearing problems and behavioral issues. Extensive research also links childhood lead poisoning to criminal activity in adulthood.
“Most people do not understand the dangers of exposure to lead and their long-term effects,” Bixby said.
Farley’s daughter is nearly 3-years-old and she is testing above her age bracket. Farley will continue to test her daughter and watch for potential developmental delays in the future.
Prior to the testing, Farley’s daughter was in good health and did not show symptoms of lead poisoning.
Bixby said parents might notice that a child is not meeting their developmental milestones, and discover higher levels of lead in their blood after a pediatrician visit.
Farley tested her one-year-old son at the pediatrician recently and awaits the results. Meanwhile, the lead levels for herself and her oldest two children ages 12 and 7 remain at 0.
Bixby’s biggest piece for Ashland County families is to shield their children from lead exposure through research and communication upon buying or renting a home.
“Once that child has been exposed, it takes a lot of effort to decrease lead levels,” Bixby said. “Don’t risk your child’s life because of the potential long-term effects.”
Ashland County residents that would like more information can contact Shirley Bixby at the Ashland County Health Department by calling 419-282-4232 or emailing sbixby@ashlandhealth.com.
