Information for Health Care Providers on Lead Poisoning Prevention and Management
New York State Public Health Law and Regulations require health care providers to:
- Obtain a blood lead test for all children at age 1 and again at age 2;
- Assess all children ages 6 months to 6 years for risk of lead exposure at least annually as part of routine care, and obtain a blood lead test on all children found to be at risk.
- If a child has an elevated lead level, the health care provider must make certain the child has follow-up testing. Providers must also provide guidance on lead poisoning prevention, risk reduction and nutritional counseling to the parent or caregiver.
- Provide anticipatory guidance to all parents of children under six years old, as part of routine care.
Detecting and preventing lead exposure has grown in importance with the increasing evidence that blood lead levels (BLLs) less than 10 mcg/dL in young children are associated with learning disabilities, behavior problems, and lowered intelligence.
Health care providers should become familiar with all Public Health Law and regulations pertaining to lead poisoning risk assessment, blood lead testing, reporting, and follow-up. The most recent amendments went into effect June 20, 2009.
The following resources and materials can help health care providers prevent, detect, and manage lead exposure in children and adults.
Management Guidelines
- Guidelines for the Identification and Management of Lead Exposure in Children
- Guidelines for the Blood Lead Testing of Refugee Children and Refugee Pregnant Women
- Medicaid Update, July, 2009: New York Medicaid Expands Reimbursement for Blood Lead Testing in Children and Pregnant Women
- Deputy Commissioner's Letter to Health Care Providers Advising of Changes to New York State Public Health Law and Regulations for Blood Lead Testing, Reporting and Follow-up (June 2009) (PDF, 104KB, 1pg.)
- Commissioner's Letter to Health Care Providers Regarding Low Level Lead Exposure, June 2009
- Interpreting and Managing Blood Lead Levels <10 µg/dL in Children and Reducing Childhood Exposures to Lead(November, 2007) - CDC
- Lead Exposure in Children: Prevention, Detection and Management - Statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics on Lead Toxicity (Fall 2005)
- Commissioner's Letter to Physicians Regarding Lead Screening, August 2005
- Lead Poisoning Prevention Guidelines for Prenatal Care Providers
- Lead Exposure in Adults: A Guide for Health Care Providers
- Guidelines for Follow-up of Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels for Local Health Department Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs (PDF, 2.93MB, 64pg.)
- Working with Refugees from Burma to Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning
Educational Materials for Parents
Resource Contact List
- Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs in Local Health Departments
- Regional Lead Resource Centers - Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
- Occupational Health Clinics
- Heavy Metals Registry
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Childhood) Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
- New York City Adult Lead Program
