• learning disabilities.
• behavioral problems and mental retardation.
• health problems.
• seizures, coma, and even death.

"Child health-care providers should use a blood lead test to screen all children at ages 1 and 2, and children 36-72 months of age." In addition, screening is mandated for children who receive services from public assistance programs such as Medicaid or the Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).  

Screening is also recommended if the child's parent or guardian answers .yes. or .don.t know to any question in a basic personal-risk questionnaire consisting of these three questions:

-Does your child live in or regularly visit a house that was built before 1950? This question could apply to a facility such as a home day-care center or the home of a babysitter or relative.

-Does your child live in or regularly visit a house built before 1978 with recent or ongoing renovations or remodeling (within the last 6 months)?

-Does your child have a sibling or playmate who has or did have lead poisoning?

It is highly likely that children living in the Silver Valley may be at higher than average risk for lead exposure, yet may not be receiving screening as mandated by the US CDC.

The Focus of Lead Screening should be with children at ages 1 and 2.

One- and 2-year-old children are at greatest risk for elevated BLLs because of:
. Increasing mobility during the second year of life, resulting in more access to lead hazards.
. Normal hand-to-mouth activity.

In addition, the developing nervous system in young children is more susceptible to the adverse effects of lead.

In the Silver Valley, and the 1500 square miles of the contaminated zone (see map), it is important to examine the data, especially from other sources of lead exposure.  Other sources may be traditional remedies and cosmetics, operating or abandoned industrial sources, waste-disposal sites, occupational and take-home exposure, yard soil, toys and drinking water.

Additional sources and pathways of lead exposure include:
***Industries, work sites, occupations, and associated materials
***Secondary smelting and refining of nonferrous metals
Brass/copper foundries
Firing ranges
Automotive repair shops
Bridge, tunnel, and elevated highway construction
Motor vehicle parts and accessories
Storage batteries (lead batteries)
Valve and pipe fittings
Plumbing fixture fittings and trim
Pottery
Chemical and chemical preparations
Industrial machinery and equipment
Inorganic pigments
Primary batteries, dry and wet
Hobbies and home activities
Recreational use of firing ranges
***Home repairs, repainting, or remodeling
Furniture refinishing
Stained glass making
Casting ammunition
Making fishing weights or sinkers, or toy soldiers
Using lead solder (e.g., for electronics)
Using lead-containing artists. paints or ceramic glazes
Burning lead-painted wood
Car or boat repair

SVCRC has stepped up and reached out for the health of the community to offer lead education and has worked for more than 20 years with other agencies and communities to increase rates of well-child care.

Monitoring of screening activity is necessary to improve screening rates, especially in the Silver Valley where screening is inadequate and does not meet CDC minimum standards.

Since 1991 the CDC has recommended virtually universal screening of U.S. children.  

Barriers to such screening have been identified. The two most important are:

. Many providers and parents do not believe that lead exposure is a problem in their community.
. Some children who are at high risk for lead exposure because of poverty and residence in deteriorating housing do not receive routine well-child care and thus are not screened for lead.

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