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Childhood lead poisoning remains one of the most important, preventable pediatric environmental health problems in the United States. The Pinellas County Health Department serves the most densely populated county in the State of Florida. Pinellas County is home to over 55,000 children under 6 years of age, seventy percent (70%) of these young children live in high-risk or at-risk zip code areas, where the percentage of pre-1950 or pre-1970 housing exceeds the national average. Seventy-three percent (73%) of the homes in Pinellas County were built prior to 1978, when most homes were painted with lead-based paint, the number one source of exposure for children in the United States. This poisoning is typically caused by the inhalation or ingestion of lead dust resulting from the deterioration of this paint. Lead poisoning can harm virtually every system in the human body, so a lead poisoned child may show a wide range of symptoms. To further complicate detection, some children may not show any symptoms until the problem becomes severe.

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Symptoms, if present, can include: fatigue, stomach pains, headache, and pain in the hands, feet, muscles, or joints. Other effects can include developmental delays, speech and language problems, aggression, hyperactivity, delinquency and impulsivity. Extremely high blood lead levels can be fatal.

The Pinellas County Health Department is dedicated to the complete elimination of childhood lead poisoning. The Epidemiology Program is currently involved in the surveillance and case management of children and adults whose lead screening results indicate elevated blood lead levels. If you are interested in testing your child for lead poisoning, please contact your child’s pediatrician. If your child does not have a pediatrician, or you have any questions, please call the Epidemiology Program at (727) 824-6932 for further information.

Contact Information:

Pinellas County Health Department
Epidemiology Program
205 Dr. Martin Luther King Street No.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

727 -824-6932 (Phone)
727-820-4270 (Fax)

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has established the Healthy People 2010 goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning nationwide by the year 2010.

TESTING INFO: Pediatrician, we offer very limited screenings.

Lead poisoning is 100% preventable. No child should be left behind.