Lead Poisoning
Objective: Reduce the incidence of children ages fourteen years and younger with blood lead levels exceeding 15g/dl to 13 per 100,000.
Lead poisoning is one of our nations most preventable childhood health problems because many of the sources of lead in our environment can be readily identified and eliminated. This has already been accomplished to a large extent through stronger environmental standards that prohibit the use of lead in gasoline, paint, and plumbing fixtures, and the use of lead solder in food cans. In spite of significant progress that has resulted from these changes, we are still faced with thousands of older houses in Virginia that contain lead-based paints that pose a hazard to young children. Some houses were constructed with materials containing lead up to a quarter of a century ago, but virtually all housing built before 1950 used such paint. As the paint deteriorates or is disturbed during renovation or remodeling, the resulting paint chips, dust and contaminated soil become major sources of lead exposure. The screening of children for elevated blood lead levels must be a high priority if we are to prevent major physical and mental health problems in their later lives.
Alexandria / 44.6 / 39.0 / 42.5 / 30.4
Alleghany / 59.9 / 17.40 / 7.2 / 14.4
Arlington / 46.5 / 47.0 / 44.3 / 24.2
Central Shenandoah / 17.5 / 7.0 / 11.8 / 14.1
Central Virginia / 133.1 / 90.8 / 89.0 / 69.8
Chesapeake / 23.6 / 15.8 / 16.8 / 2.4
Chesterfield / 16.6 / 1.5 / 2.6 / 1.9
Crater / 401.8 / 223.0 / 215.0 / 134.2
Cumberland Plateau / 25.7 / 7.7 / 0.0 / 13.6
Eastern Shore / 546.6 / 270.2 / 108.6 / 173.8
Fairfax / 2.4 / 4.9 / 4.2 / 5.2
Hampton / 47.8 / 30.0 / 29.9 / 29.9
Hanover / 77.1 / 23.5 / 4.7 / 13.9
Henrico / 55.8 / 29.3 / 14.8 / 27.5
Lenowisco / 8.8 / 43.2 / 11.5 / 23.0
Lord Fairfax / 3.8 / 2.9 / 2.8 / 8.4
Loudoun / 0.0 / 16.1 / 0.0 / 0.0
Mount Rogers / 14.4 / 42.8 / 9.4 / 6.3
New River / 18.3 / 8.1 / 0.0 / 8.1
Norfolk / 213.4 / 177.6 / 103.1 / 74.1
Peninsula / 51.8 / 43.2 / 17.5 / 23.3
Piedmont / 80.8 / 46.8 / 11.6 / 69.7
Pittsylvania/Danville / 220.9 / 126.4 / 126.5 / 89.1
Portsmouth / 260.5 / 112.7 / 120.0 / 82.7
Prince William / 13.9 / 0.0 / 1.4 / 4.1
Rappahannock / 35.1 / 18.6 / 18.8 / 8.4
Rappahannock/Rapidan / 21.8 / 11.1 / 3.4 / 3.4
Richmond / 583.1 / 367.9 / 286.9 / 225.2
Roanoke / 433.2 / 303.6 / 240.9 / 144.6
Southside / 19.2 / 6.1 / 6.3 / 38.0
Thomas Jefferson / 38.5 / 29.4 / 15.0 / 15.0
Three Rivers / 36.7 / 36.3 / 43.7 / 27.8
Virginia Beach / 6.8 / 3.8 / 6.1 / 1.7
West Piedmont / 30.8 / 60.2 / 12.1 / 40.2
Western Tidewater / 50.6 / 42.2 / 20.3 / 48.7
Virginia / 74.0 / 72.5 / 55.1 / 31.0
*Rates per 100,000 children age 0-14 reported with blood lead levels > 15 ug/dl
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