Lead Poisoning Prevention, Case Management, and Screening
Public Health – Muskegon County provides a variety of services that help to identify, manage, and prevent lead poisoning in our community’s children. Our staff works with healthcare provider offices to assure children are screened periodically and appropriately referred to hazard reduction services.
Lead Exposure Screening
In October 2023, two laws were passed that established universal blood lead testing of all children at certain ages, no matter their risk for lead exposure.
What is required under Michigan’s new universal blood lead testing laws?
- All Michigan children must be tested for lead exposure at 12 and 24 months of age (i.e., age 1 and 2). If there is no record of a previous test, children must be tested for lead exposure between age 24 and 72 months (i.e., age 6).
- Physicians must make sure that the child’s blood lead test results are included in the child’s immunization certificate.
- Parents/legal guardians may opt out of the testing.
- MDHHS must establish administrative rules that will:
- Identify high-risk areas for lead poisoning in the state. Children living in these areas must also be tested at age 4.
- Define factors that identify children at high risk for lead poisoning and at what intervals children at high risk should receive additional tests.
- The testing requirements will not go into effect until the rules are established.
- MDHHS is in the process of establishing the rules and will announce when that process is completed in mid- to late-2024.
- Learn more at Mi Lead Safe (michigan.gov).
The WIC program at Public Health - Muskegon County helps to assure children participating in WIC are screened for lead exposure at appropriate intervals and are referred to medical care as required. The type of testing done in WIC is a preliminary screen, otherwise known as a capillary test. If the results are more than 3.5 ug/dL (micrograms/deciliter), a child will be referred to their health care provider for follow-up testing (venous draw) and monitoring.
Lead Education and Case Management
Public Health – Muskegon County offers education and case management services for all families of children with a blood lead test (venous draw) result greater than 3.5 ug/dL. Public Health staff contact the family of each child with a high-test result by mail, telephone call, and/or text message to offer case management and/or education services.
Lead education services include:
- Instruction on what lead is, where it comes from and how to avoid contamination.
- Instruction on lead safe cleaning methods.
- Instruction on how to create temporary barriers to possible lead hazards.
- Education about the importance of nutrients to help avoid and eliminate lead.
- Assistance with obtaining a lead abatement application: with the City of Muskegon or with the State of MI.
Case Management Services are conducted by a Registered Nurse and include:
- Education services listed above.
- Development of a Plan of Care for the child.
- Coordination with Medicaid health plans (insurance) and the child’s primary provider.
- Follow-up and referral services to assure that the child’s lead level continues to go down.