Winnebago, Boone counties added to ‘high-risk’ list for lead poisoning in children

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Department of Public Health says mandatory testing for lead exposure in children is required in 148 ZIP codes in 60 counties, including those in Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, and Stephenson.

Under Illinois law, any child residing in a high-risk ZIP code must be tested at 12, 24 and 36 months. All children six years of age and younger are required to be assessed for lead exposure through the use of a questionnaire administered by a pediatrician.

“There is no safe level of lead in the blood,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “To better serve our children and build brighter futures for all of our residents, IDPH is acting to ensure that more children have access to the testing and interventions necessary to decrease the potential serious physical and developmental health concerns linked to lead exposure.”

Blood tests that come back with lead levels in excess of five micrograms per deciliter require a public health intervention, which includes a home inspection to determine the source of the lead contamination and a visit from a public health nurse.

The newly-added ZIP codes come from the following Illinois counties:

Adams
Alexander
Bond
Boone
Calhoun
Carroll
Champaign
Clinton
Coles
Cook
Crawford
Cumberland
Dekalb
Douglas
DuPage
Edwards
Effingham
Franklin
Gallatin
Hardin
Henry
Jackson
Jefferson
Jo Daviess
Johnson
Kane
La Salle
Lake
Lee
Macon
Macoupin
Madison
Marion
Marshall
Massac
McLean
Monroe
Montgomery
Morgan
Ogle
Peoria
Piatt
Pope
Pulaski
Putnam
Randolph
Richland
Rock Island
St. Clair
Saline
Sangamon
Shelby
Tazewell
Union
Vermilion
Washington
White
Whiteside
Will
Winnebago

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.