BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- October 25-31 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in St. Lawrence County and Public Health officials are urging county residents to join the national commitment to eliminate lead poisoning. 

Officials say even low levels of lead exposure have been shown to affect the developing brains of children, leading to health problems that are often invisible and irreversible. 

"The Public Health Department has worked to protect our children by encouraging parents to have young children screened for elevated blood lead levels at one and two years of age," officials said. 

Changes in state law in 2019 lowered the definition of elevated blood lead level, increasing the number of children in the county that are being monitored for EBLLs. 

Officials said as of September 2026, 78 children are actively being monitored after blood tests revealed elevated blood lead levels. 

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately half a million children living in the United States have lead levels high enough to cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, developmental delays, and, at very high levels, seizures and coma," officials said. 

Public Health officials said it is important to educate the public about sources of lead exposure, as well as preventative measures that can be taken. 

"The Board of Legislators joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in encouraging parents to learn more about lead exposure prevention," county officials said. 

Increased awareness of childhood lead exposure is critical so parents, healthcare providers, housing authorities, as well as building and construction professionals, along with educators can work to prevent children from being exposed to the various sources of lead. 

"The focus campaign for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is "End Childhood Lead Poisoning," which reminds governments, civil society organizations, health partners, industry, and others of the unacceptable risks of lead exposure and the need for action to protect children's health," officials said. 

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