Lead Inspection - Tulare HHSA

Lead Inspections

Lead has been shown to have highly detrimental effects on humans. However, the impact on children is especially onerous in its effects to the developing brain and central nervous system.

The Environmental Health Department works in cooperation with the Public Health Department’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (TC CLPPP). Once it has been determined that a child has blood lead levels consistent with lead poisoning, both a Public Health Nurse (PHN) and a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS)/Certified Lead Inspector/Assessor (I/A) visit the child’s home.

The REHS-I/A conducts an environmental home inspection for lead hazards. The REHS-I/A identifies and tests the environment for possible sources of lead and makes recommendations for mitigating exposure. The REHS-I/A then follows up to ensure that the recommendations have been effective in reducing or eradicating the sources of lead.

The PHN counsels the family on the medical, developmental, and nutritional aspects of lead poisoning. For more information regarding treatment aspects see the TC CLPPP link above.

Environmental Lead Hazards

Housing built prior to 1978 is presumed to have lead-based paint. Chipped or peeling paint, often from doors and windows, may be ingested by children.
Lead in soil. Lead may be in soil where children play. It may have been deposited near roadways when leaded gas was used or where leaded paint has chipped from a house
Lead contaminated dust from paint or soil may cling to household surfaces and be transferred to children’s hands or other objects that they may put in their mouths.
Foreign exposure – adults may bring home lead on clothing as a result of work with radiator repair, demolition, soldering, scrap metal recycling or from hobbies that use lead, such as stained glass construction or using lead weights while fishing.
More