Milwaukee Health Dept. issues new lead poisoning prevention recommendations

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Lead poisoning continues to be a serious health threat facing young children in Milwaukee. On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the city of Milwaukee is raising awareness and wants to get the word out on the new lead testing recommendations to better protect families.

"All it takes is a packet of sugar, if you had lead paint and it was a packet of sugar spread throughout the entire home, that's enough to cause lead poisoning," said Michael Mannan, Director of Home Environmental Health.

If levels get high enough, lead poisoning can be fatal. It can also cause developmental disabilities in children.

"It can be behavioral issues, learning delays, challenge with literacy issues, impulse control. You think it could be ADHD, but it could be linked to lead poisoning," said Tyler Weber, Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Health, Milwaukee.

In 2019, the National Library of Medicine published a study linking the lead exposure to hyperactivity disorder.

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden announced $2.6 billion in funding will go to replace all lead pipes in the U.S.

According to a study in Jama Pediatrics, Wisconsin is one of six states where lead levels in the blood of children are more than double the national rate.

"We're recommending to parents, children and also their providers that every child in the City of Milwaukee is tested at 12 months, 18 and 24 months and then annually after," said Weber.

Weber says they estimated 80% of homes in Milwaukee have lead.

Shawn Morris's home was built in 1910 and says it was a lead abatement program flyer that convinced her to get the house tested.

"I told my sister I thought it would be a good thing to look into because it's an older house, we had peeling paint and she had her two grandchildren living here with us," said Shawn Morris, homeowner.

The program requires you get tested for lead poisoning. That is how Shawn's sister, Denise, found out her grandkids had high levels of lead.

"Both my grandkids' levels were at 12 and that was high enough to cause brain damage to a certain extent," said Denise Morris.

The family stayed in a hotel for 3 months while their home was being cleaned but the sisters say they are beyond grateful they got the help they needed.

"The Lead Abatement Program led us to other programs that helped us so I would say don't be suborn, put your pride aside and just go for it," said Morris.

For the City of Milwaukee Lead Testing Recommendations click here.

For resources from State of Wisconsin click here.