Lead

Lead poisoning continues to be a problem in Northwest Iowa. 45% of Sioux County houses were built prior to 1950 and have lead paint in them. Paint chips with lead in them taste sweet, so children find them appealing.

Children’s bodies absorb lead more easily than adults and high lead levels can cause hearing loss, learning disabilities, brain damage, or death.

The main treatment for lead poisoning is repairing or removing lead paint from the child’s home.

Community Health Partners is promoting awareness of lead poisoning by promoting testing of all children, inspecting homes with lead poisoned children living in them, and providing education for medical providers and for parents.

Sioux County is part of a five county lead coalition, including Plymouth, O’Brien, Osceola, and Lyon counties.