San Joaquin County’s CLPPP was established in 1994 with the mission of eliminating childhood lead poisoning by identifying and caring for lead burdened children and preventing environmental exposures to lead. The CLPPP’s vision is a healthy, lead-safe environment where all children can achieve their full potential.
The Program is under the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch, California Department of Public Health.
Lead poisoning is dangerous to the growth and development of young children. It can make it hard for children to learn, pay attention and behave. Lead is most harmful to children under the age of six because they are growing rapidly and put their hands or other objects in their mouth. Most children with lead poisoning do not look or act sick. The only way to know if your child has lead poisoning is for your child to get a blood test for lead. Most children are tested at one and two years of age.
San Joaquin County’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) provides services to the community with the goal of:
- Increasing awareness of lead hazards and providing education and assistance in order to reduce lead exposure,
- Increasing the number of children who receive a blood test for lead poisoning.
The CLPPP provides case management services and home inspections to families of children found to be severely lead poisoned. In addition, information and education are provided to the general public, medical providers, and community-based organizations.
These services are open to all residents of San Joaquin County free of charge.
Prevention
Lead poisoning is entirely preventable. The best way to prevent lead poisoning is to provide your child with a safe environment that does not contain any of the hazards that are known to cause lead poisoning. Children get lead poisoned when they touch something with lead and then put their hands into their mouth. They may also get lead poisoning if they put lead contaminated objects into their mouth. Children under the age of 6 are at highest risk because their brains are developing, they often put their hands or other objects into their mouth, and they absorb lead at a higher rate than adults.
Lead-based paint and lead contaminated dust are the main sources of lead exposure for U.S. children. Lead-based paint was banned from residential use in 1978.
Nutrition & Lead:
| Well Fed = Less Lead (List of foods with Iron, Calcium, and Vitamin C) | English |Spanish |
| Protect your child from lead | English & Spanish |
| Getting Your Child Tested for Lead | English | Spanish |
Lead is a poison that can cause damage to the developing brain, nervous system, kidneys and other major organs. Children with lead poisoning may have learning and behavior problems that can last a lifetime.
Although the most common source of lead poisoning in children is lead contaminated dust from paint or soil, consumer products can also be a problem. Young children are most commonly exposed to lead in consumer products from directly mouthing an object or by handling an object and then putting their hands in their mouth. See links below to learn more about products containing lead.
Surma
Surma is a significant source of lead poisoning among children in San Joaquin County.
- Learn More about Surma here
- Surma flyer [English, Dari]
Lead in Candy
Lead has been found in some consumer candies imported to the United States. Lead sometimes gets into the candy when the ingredients are improperly processed such as in drying, storing or grinding. In addition, the ink of the plastic or paper wrappers
may contain lead that leaches into the candy. The FDA-recommended upper limit for lead in candy is 0.1 ppm.
It is not possible to tell if the candy has lead by either looking at it or tasting it. Eating even small amounts of lead can be harmful.
Workplace Safety
Overexposure to lead is a leading cause of workplace illness and affects numerous systems in the body. These effects can happen after periods of exposure as short as a few days or as long as several years. Even low levels of lead in adults can:
- Increase blood pressure - may increase the chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
- Decrease brain function - makes it more difficult to think, learn, and remember.
- Decrease kidney function - makes it more difficult to get rid of toxic waste products through the urine.
- Harm the physical and mental development of a baby before it’s born.
- Increase chances of having a miscarriage.
Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978. Disturbing paint in buildings constructed before 1978 may be hazardous to both workers and residents.
Children can get lead poisoning if you or someone who lives in your home, works with lead. Some kinds of work make lead dust. Even though you can’t see the lead dust, it can get on your hands, face, and clothes. The lead dust you take home from your job can get in your car, on furniture, floors, and carpets. Young children can swallow this lead dust and be poisoned.
Occupational Information:
| Don't Take Lead Home from your Job | English | Spanish |
| Protect Your Family from Lead on the Job | English | Spanish |
| Repainting or Fixing Up your Older Home? | English | Spanish |
Medical Providers: To report an elevated blood lead level, please call 209-468-2593
NEW CDC blood lead reference value (BLRV) On October 28, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a change in its blood lead reference value (BLRV) from ≥ 5 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) to ≥ 3.5 mcg/dL. The CDC BLRV is used to identify children with higher levels of lead in their blood compared to most children. Children with blood lead levels at or above the BLRV represent those at the top 2.5% with the highest blood lead levels.
The CDC recommends healthcare providers follow-up BLLs ≥ 3.5 mcg/dL (the new BLRV), and California Department of Public Health encourages healthcare providers to provide retesting and follow-up for blood lead levels ≥ 3.5 mcg/dL.
The California Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch is working to update the California Management Guidelines to incorporate this change.
For additional information, please visit CLPPB’s Updated CDC Blood Lead Reference Value web page
If you have any questions or would like to order educational materials . regarding lead poisoning prevention, please feel free to contact SJC CLPPP at 209.468.2593 or email at PHS -CLPPP@ sjcphs.org .
2020 Preventive Services Report Addendum
- DHCS contracted HSAG, to develop this Addendum. It presents the DHCS-calculated Blood Lead Screening (BLS) rates, which were calculated in accordance with California Title 17 requirements.
- This Addendum reports rates for four BLS indicators for reporting year 2020/measurement year 2019.
| 12 Months of age | 24 Months of age | Two Tests by 24 Months of Age | Catch-up Test by 5 yeras of age | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Joaquin | 43.31% | 34.80% | 21.07% | 36.86% |
| Statewide | 53.25% | 43.40% | 30.51% | 36.99% |
| Performance Quintiles: 1(worst)-5(best) | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Number of Individual Children Screened for Lead, 2020
| Age Group (years) | Blood Lead Level (BLL) < 4.5 n | BLL < 4.5% (row) | BLL >= 4.5 to < 9.5 n | BLL >= 4.5 to < 9.5% (row) | BLL >= 9.5 n | BLL >= 9.5% (row) | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age < 6 | 8,524 | 98.84% | 73 | 0.85% | 27 | 0.31% | 8,624 |
| Age 6 to 21 | 636 | 99.07% | 6 | 0.93% | -- | -- | 642 |
| Local Total age < 21 | 9,160 | 98.86% | 79 | 0.85% | 27 | 0.29% | 9,266 |
Lead Poisoning Overview
Most lead-poisoned children are asymptomatic. If present, symptoms typically are nonspecific complaints, such as stomachache, irritability, headache, fatigue, or loss of appetite. The only way to diagnose lead poisoning is to obtain a blood lead level (BLL).
Sources of Lead Poisoning
| Lead Source Handout | English | Spanish | Hindi Pashto | Punjabi | Urdu |
| Home Remedies: Has your child been treated for stomachache? | English | Spanish |
| Lead in paint | English | Spanish |
| Lead In dirt | English | Spanish |
| Pottery Flyer: Do You Cook with Traditional Pottery? | English | Spanish |
| Lead In Traditional Ceramics | English | Spanish |
| Surma Informational flyer | English | Dari |
California Management Guidelines 
For more information and resources for Health Care Providers please visit the state website .
Frequently Asked Questions
What are common sources of lead?
Why do you target children under the age of six?
How do I know if my child has lead poisoning?
Can lead poisoning be treated?
How can healthy foods protect my child from lead poisoning?
What are some simple steps to protect my child from lead poisoning?
Lead is a natural mineral that has been used in many products over the years. Lead poisoning occurs when lead builds up in the body, often over a period of months or years. There is no known safe level of lead in the body, and even small amounts can cause lifelong learning and behavior problems.
What are common Sources of Lead Poisoning ?
- Lead-based paint (pre-1978). It may have been used both inside and outside of a home. Children may eat paint chips or chew on the surfaces of windows, walls, doors, or railings. In San Joaquin County, about 63% of homes were built before 1978.
- Lead-contaminated soil. Lead may be in the soil where children play, especially near busy roadways or factories. The lead from gasoline used for many years has settled onto soil and is difficult to remove. This soil may also be tracked inside on shoes and clothing.
- Lead-contaminated dust from paint or soil. The dust clings to windowsills, floors, doorways and children’s toys, and is dangerous to young children who crawl and often put their hands and other objects in their mouths.
- Take-home exposure in the dust brought home on clothing, equipment, or in the car or truck driven from work. Lead dust can also come from hobbies that use lead.
Common Sources of Take Home Exposure
- Imported home remedies and imported cosmetics may contain lead. They often are imported from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, the Dominican Republic, or Mexico. The remedies are often bright yellow or orange in color. Examples include: Alarcon, Alkohl, Azarcon, Bali goli, Bint al zahab, Coral, Greta, Farouk, Ghasard, Kandu, Kohl, Liga, Litargirio, Lozeena, Pay-loo-ah, Sindoor, and Surma. There are many others.
- Imported or handmade pottery and tableware with leaded glaze. The lead from the glaze gets into food and beverages when these ceramics are used for cooking or storing food.
Lead in Traditional Ceramic Dishware
Why do you target children under the age of six?
Children under six years old and fetuses are at greatest risk of the harmful effects from lead poisoning:
- Their brains and nervous systems are still forming.
- They frequently crawl on floors or furniture contaminated with lead dust and put their hands or other objects in their mouths.
- More of the lead that gets into their mouth is taken up into their bodies.
- Much of the lead is stored in their bones.
- Lead can be measured in their blood and remains in their bodies for a long time.
How do I know if my child has lead poisoning?
Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick. Symptoms, if present, may be confused with common childhood complaints such as stomachaches, crankiness, headaches, or loss of appetite. The only way to know if your child has lead poisoning is for the child to get a blood test for lead.
Children ages 12 months and 24 months who are enrolled in publicly funded health care programs such as Medi-Cal, Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (CHDP), the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), or Healthy Families are at high risk and should be tested. Cost for the test is covered by government health programs and most health insurance plans.
If you are concerned your child may have been exposed to lead, or if you live in a pre‐1978 home that has been repaired/remodeled or has chipped/peeling paint, ask your child’s doctor about a blood lead test. You should also ask for a lead test if your child has a playmate or a family member with lead poisoning or you have a history of living in or visiting a country with high levels of environmental lead.
Can lead poisoning be treated?
- The most common way to treat lead poisoning in children is to find the lead source and remove it from the environment. Few children have high enough levels of lead in their blood that they require a medicine called a chelating agent. A chelating agent is a type of medicine that helps to remove the lead from the child’s body.
- Any other problems associated with lead poisoning, such as anemia, should be treated.
- A healthy diet is recommended.
How can healthy foods protect my child from lead poisoning?
A good diet can help prevent lead from getting into your child’s body. These suggestions provide your child with a healthy diet and also prevent lead from being absorbed into your child’s body. Your child should:
- Eat regular meals and healthy snacks (four to six times a day).
- Eat calcium-rich foods (cheese, milk, spinach, salmon, yogurt, tofu, and leafy greens).
- Eat iron-rich foods (lean red meat, chicken or turkey without skin, raisins, beans, oatmeal, and split peas).
- Eat vitamin C to help the body absorb iron (fruit juice, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, broccoli, kiwi, and strawberries).
- Reduce fatty foods such as fried foods, fast foods, and “junk” foods (donuts, potato chips, and cupcakes). However, some fat in the diet is very important for brain development, especially under age two. Examples of healthy fats include foods such as peanut or almond butter, avocado, baked or broiled oily fish such as salmon.
What are some simple steps to protect my child from lead poisoning?
- Wash your child’s hands and face frequently, especially after coming in from playing outside and before eating.
- Wash toys, countertops and windowsills and wet mop floors weekly with an all-purpose detergent.
- Feed your child regular meals with a diet high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C and low in fat. Well Fed = Less Lead
- Clean up paint chips and peeling paint safely. Remodeling or repairing a lead-painted home can release dangerous amounts of lead. Hire a contractor certified by the State of California to do lead work.
State-certified Lead Contractors
If you must do the work yourself, contact San Joaquin County’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 209-468-2593 for information on how to do the work safely. Renovate Right and Repainting or Fixing Up Your Older Home provide additional lead hazard information.
- Keep furniture away from damaged paint. Pay special attention to cribs, beds, highchairs, and playpens.
- Allow cold water to run for a few minutes in the morning before using it for drinking, cooking, or mixing formula in case there may be lead in your household pipes. Do not use hot water from the tap for drinking or in food preparation.
- Avoid using handmade, older, or imported dishes for food or drink preparation, storage, or serving, unless you are sure they do not contain lead.
- Avoid using imported home remedies or cosmetics that contain lead. If you are not sure, contact San Joaquin County’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 209-468-2593.
- Take off your shoes before entering the house. Or use a doormat to wipe shoes off – this will help prevent lead dust and soil from getting into your house.
- Don’t let your child play in areas where bare soil is exposed.
- Vacuum carpets frequently to reduce household dust, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
- If you work with lead at your job, learn how to prevent your child from becoming lead poisoned.
Don’t Take Lead Home from Your Job
- Before remodeling, ask a trained professional to test the paint in your house. If lead is in the paint, learn how to handle it safely.
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