KCHD Offering Free Lead Testing For Children Under 5

  A team from the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department will be conducting lead testing for children five years old and under on the last Wednesday of the month beginning in June.

  The next testing event will be July 30 at the North Charleston WIC Office from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free, and no appointment is required.

  Dr. Steven Eshenaur, KCHD’s Health Officer and Executive Director, said it’s most common for children to
get exposed to lead if they live in or visit older structures built before 1978 or they play in contaminated
soil near factories, highways or airports. Some older homes may have lead-based paint, which can chip
and create lead dust or they may have lead pipes or lead solder in water systems. Certain imported toys,
jewelry or candy may also contain lead, or parents and caregivers may bring lead home from their jobs or
hobbies that involve welding or construction.
  “Children can be exposed to lead and there could be no symptoms,” Eshenaur said. “It’s important to find out if they have lead in their blood because it can cause a number of health issues and developmental delays. It’s best just to know.”

  KCHD’s team will conduct quick and easy finger prick tests from a mobile health unit for instant results. Lead testing is required in West Virginia for children under five years old.

  This public service is in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Human Services/Kanawha County WIC Program, 4188 W. Washington St., in North Charleston.
  For questions about the test, contact Daniel Barker, epidemiology, at daniel.w.barker@wv.gov.