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LBPHD Logo, featuring the nine counities we serve as they appear on a map. A large square with 8 small squares surrounded, and a windmill outline next to the words Loup Basin Public Health Department.

Providing Education To Prevent Childhood Lead

Childhood Lead Education

Sharing the dangers of lead poisoning for children in our communities.

Our Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program helps families understand the risks of lead exposure and how to protect children from its harmful effects. Young children are especially vulnerable to lead because their growing bodies absorb it more easily, and exposure can affect learning, behavior, growth, and development. Lead is most commonly found in homes built before 1978, but it can also be present in soil, drinking water, and some consumer products. We provide education, resources, and guidance to help families identify potential sources of lead, reduce exposure, and access blood lead testing when appropriate. Whether you're expecting a child, caring for a young child, or looking for information about lead safety in your home, our team is here to help you create a healthier environment for children to learn, grow, and thrive.

Lead in water - NE DHHS Lab
Tribal Lead Education
Resources & Links
InTheTap - Search your city water Lead levels
Lead in soil
Addressing Lead concerns
Resources for parents, caregivers, and educators.
CDC Lead checklist
CDC Lead checklist - Espanol
Kids Workbook
NE DHHS Lead Activities
Potential signs & effects of lead poisoning
Lead-Poisoning-Sources-in-Children.jpg
How lead affects children

Lead can harm a child's developing brain and nervous system, even at low levels. Because children are still growing, they absorb lead more easily than adults and are more vulnerable to its effects.

Possible Effects of Lead exposure

  • Learning difficulties and lower academic performance

  • Delayed growth and development

  • Speech and language delays

  • Attention and concentration problems

  • Behavioral concerns, including increased irritability and impulsivity

  • Hearing problems

  • Reduced IQ and cognitive function

  • Slowed development of the brain and nervous system

  • Difficulty with memory and problem-solving skills

There is no safe level of lead exposure for children.

Short-term effects
Long-term effects

Many children with lead exposure do not appear sick and may have no obvious symptoms.

The effects of lead exposure can last a lifetime, particularly when exposure occurs during early childhood.

However, even slightly elevated levels of exposure can cause:

  • Fatigue or decreased energy

  • Irritability or mood changes

  • Loss of appetite

  • Stomach pain or constipation

  • Headaches

  • Difficulty paying attention

Long-term impacts may include:

  • Learning and developmental disabilities

  • Reduced attention span

  • Behavioral challenges

  • Lower educational achievement

  • Increased need for special education services

  • Lasting effects on brain development and cognitive function

Lead exposure during pregnancy

Lead exposure can affect a baby before birth. Lead stored in a mother's bones can be released during pregnancy and passed to the developing baby through the placenta.

Prenatal lead exposure may:

  • Affect fetal growth and development

  • Increase the risk of premature birth

  • Contribute to low birth weight

  • Impact brain and nervous system development before birth

  • Increase the risk of developmental and learning challenges later in childhood

Because the effects of lead exposure are often invisible, prevention and early testing are important steps in protecting children's health and development.

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