State House wants to test more kids for lead poisoning

February 21, 2008

OLYMPIA – In the wake of a slew of toy recalls based on lead contamination, lawmakers in Olympia want to know the extent of any exposure to the well-known toxic metal.

The state House on Monday evening passed House Bill 3059, directing both the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to follow federal law and conduct blood-lead level testing for all eligible children. 

A Head Start program on Beacon Hill alerted State Representative Zack Hudgins (D – Tukwila) to the low testing rate among high-risk kids. Hudgins followed up with state officials this past summer and was shocked to find that in 2007, only around 1,000 out of 88,183 children assisted financially by the state’s Medicaid program were screened for lead exposure.

“I was alarmed to find out that there was virtually no data on lead poisoning being collected in Washington,” said Hudgins. “Our agencies were caught in the typical bureaucratic Catch-22; because our state had low levels of reported lead poisoning, our funding dried up. But once we uncovered a plentiful source of lead exposure, the agencies we rely on for the data were unable to provide the information we need.

“That’s going to change with my bill. The statistics will be collected and, most importantly, our state’s kids will get screened.”   

If the Senate and Governor agree to support HB 3059, Hudgins’ bill could bump that number to 60% of eligible children or approximately an extra 52,000 screened, at a cost of just over $16 per child.  

As currently reported by the Department of Health, The incidence of elevated lead blood level in Washington is low at about 1.2 to 1.3 percent. That number could change, however, with increased screening, especially among certain populations with greater potential for exposure.   

“For years lead-based paint was the major source of lead poisoning in kids,” added Hudgins. “These days the risk from exposure can come from many other sources – imported toys and candy, pesticides, old plumbing fixtures, and contaminated soil.

“We need to screen kids throughout all communities across the state, just as federal law requires, to see if there is a problem.” 

There are several ways to test homes and products for elevated lead levels with simple testing kits available at hardware stores and online.