Lead Poisoning Prevention

Lead poisoning is one of the most preventable environmental health problems in young children. High levels of lead can harm the brain, interfere with growth, cause learning difficulties, and may cause death.

ON THIS PAGE

• Sources of lead
• Signs of lead exposure
• Ways to reduce lead risk
• Videos
• Reports: Mississippi data
• Resources for lead information
• Contact the program

Sources of Lead

Children can be exposed to lead from any of the sources below. Children are at higher risk of lead exposure if they frequent older homes that contain lead in pipes, mini-blinds, or that have chipping and peeling paint.

Possible sources of lead are:

• Soil and dust
• Tap water
• Glazed pottery
• Electrical cords
• Garden hoses
• Lead-based paint

• Keys
• Batteries
• Imported canned foods
• Imported spices, candies and herbal medicines
• Metal jewelry
• Outside water faucets

Lead in Imported Products

Spices, jewelry and pottery purchased from abroad can be sources of lead exposure. Read our fact sheet to understand the risk.

• About lead in imported products PDF

Signs & Symptoms

Lead poisoning may occur without any signs or symptoms.

It can take a long time for symptoms of lead poisoning to appear. Your child may be at risk long before you see any effects. Some signs to look for are:

• Learning problems
• Nausea
• Growth failure
• Behavior disorder

• Unexplained seizures
• Irritability
• Developmental delay
• Hearing loss
• Frequent tiredness

Ways to Reduce Lead Exposure

• Know when your home was built. Lead-based wall paint was used in many homes built before 1978.
• Have your home checked for lead before you remodel. Do not scrape or sand lead-based paint. See this list of certified lead inspectors
• Keep your child from eating paint chips, dust or dirt. Keep children away from window sills, steps and porches in old homes.
• If you rent, notify your landlord of peeling or chipping paint.
• Clean floors, window frames, window sills and other surfaces weekly. Use a mop, sponge, or paper towel with warm water and an all-purpose cleaner. Discard sponge after use.
• Wash children's hands often, especially before eating and after playing outside. Wash toys, pacifiers and bottles often.
• Clean or remove shoes before entering your home to avoid tracking in lead dust.
• Make sure children get a diet high in iron, calcium, and vitamin C and frequent meals throughout the day.

What's in that bottle?

Some spices used in cooking, herbal medicine, or as coloring for candies can contain lead. When purchasing these items, especially online, be sure you are getting safe products from trusted sources.

What you need to know →

Having Your Home Inspected

A certified lead inspector can determine whether your home has lead in or around it. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality maintains a list of certified inspectors.

• Certified lead inspectors MDEQ

Testimony

How a family in Ohio was affected by lead after renovations in their house.

• One family's experience with lead PDF

If you have an older home that may contain lead-based paint, this program for Hattiesburg residents can help with the cost of removing the old paint and repainting.

• Learn more PDF

Contact: Chiquila Dolison, Ph.D.
601-554-1025
leadsafe@hattiesburgms.com

Videos

How Lead Affects Children, and How to Be Tested

Families and Lead Exposure

More Videos

Reports

• Mississippi lead surveillance reports

Lead and Healthy Homes Resources

Lead

Resources

• Quick Guide for Lead Poisoning Prevention, Clinical Evaluation, and Management
• Lead and a Healthy Diet: What You Can Do to Protect Your Child
• Questions and Answers About Lead in the Home
• Combata el Envenenamiento con Plomo con una Dieta Saludable PDF
• Avoiding Take-Home Lead Exposure
• Fact sheets, brochures and educational materials

Links

• National Lead Information Center: 1-800-424-LEAD

• Lead-Free Mississippi: Resources and information for Mississippians
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Lead Poisoning Information
• Lead Poisoning Prevention from the EPA
• Lead-Based Paint Visual Assessment Training (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)
• Video: How to test children for lead with maximum accuracy (CDC)
• MSDH Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes Program

Healthy Homes

• National Center for Healthy Housing
• Healthy Homes (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)

Contact

To learn more about the risks of lead or to arrange a lead screening, contact your primary care provider or call the Mississippi Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes Program at (601) 576-7447.

For more information about Maternal and Child Health Programs and the MCH Block Grant, call 1-800-721-7222.

*Find the right program for you.

Find the free or low-cost services that you or your children may qualify for. Start now →

Links referenced on this page
Reports: Mississippi data		http://msdh.ms.gov/page/41,0,176,63.html ok
About lead in imported products		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,21154,176,pdf/Lead%5Fin%5Fimported%5Fproducts%5F2025.pdf
before 1978		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,25824,176,html ok
remodel		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,25824,176,html ok
list of certified lead inspectors		https://opcgis.deq.state.ms.us/ensearchonline/mississippi-lead-based-paint-certifications.aspx
What you need to know →		https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/prevention/foods-cosmetics-medicines.html
Certified lead inspectors		https://opcgis.deq.state.ms.us/ensearchonline/mississippi-lead-based-paint-certifications.aspx
One family's experience with lead		https://nchh.org/resource-library/Testimonial_Cantley.pdf
Learn more		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,19322,176,pdf/LeadSafeHattiesburg.pdf
leadsafe@hattiesburgms.com		mailto:leadsafe@hattiesburgms.com
More Videos		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,25824,176,html ok
Mississippi lead surveillance reports		http://msdh.ms.gov/page/41,0,176,63.html ok
Quick Guide for Lead Poisoning Prevention, Clinical Evaluation, and Management		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/19264.pdf
Lead and a Healthy Diet: What You Can Do to Protect Your Child		https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-01/documents/fight_lead_poisoning_with_a_healthy_diet_2019.pdf
Questions and Answers About Lead in the Home		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,11602,176,html ok
Combata el Envenenamiento con Plomo con una Dieta Saludable		https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/nutritionsp.pdf
Avoiding Take-Home Lead Exposure		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/11589.pdf
Fact sheets, brochures and educational materials		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,0,176,92,html ok
Lead-Free Mississippi: Resources and information for Mississippians		https://www.leadfreems.org/
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Lead Poisoning Information		https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/
Lead Poisoning Prevention from the EPA		http://www.epa.gov/lead
Lead-Based Paint Visual Assessment Training (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)		http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/training/visualassessment/h00101.htm
Video: How to test children for lead with maximum accuracy (CDC)		https://youtu.be/g2p2qREch9g
MSDH Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes Program		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/44,0,360,html ok
National Center for Healthy Housing		http://nchh.org/
Healthy Homes (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)		https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes
Start now →		http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/32,29655,html ok

Resources referenced
About lead in imported products		https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,21154,176,pdf/Lead%5Fin%5Fimported%5Fproducts%5F2025.pdf ok
Learn more		https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,19322,176,pdf/LeadSafeHattiesburg.pdf ok
Quick Guide for Lead Poisoning Prevention, Clinical Evaluation, and Management		https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/19264.pdf ok
Avoiding Take-Home Lead Exposure		https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/11589.pdf ok

Find this page at http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/index.cfm

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