Long Beach Recognizes National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2025
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Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services' Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) is gearing up for National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which will take place from October 19th to 25th. This weeklong campaign aims to educate the community about the dangers of lead and how to reduce childhood exposure through increased awareness.

The theme for this year's Lead Week is "Nutrition as Prevention," highlighting the role that nutrition plays in preventing lead from being absorbed into the body. The program hopes to empower families to offer healthy meals and snacks whenever possible.

Mayor Rex Richardson expressed his commitment to protecting the health and well-being of children and families in Long Beach. He stated, "With this year's Lead Week, we are emphasizing how important good nutrition is in reducing the risks of lead exposure while educating our community on the effects of lead poisoning. By working together as a community, we can ensure every child in Long Beach has the opportunity to grow up healthy and thrive."

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In California, children can be exposed to lead through various sources such as ingesting lead-contaminated dust or paint chips from deteriorating lead-based paint, contaminated soil, or even through contact with parents' work clothes. Other sources include imported ceramic pottery, painted objects, traditional home remedies, cosmetics, spices, candies, and other food products. Activities like soldering or handling bullets can also put children at risk.

The Long Beach CLPPP is dedicated year-round to preventing lead poisoning through health education and advocacy for timely screenings of children in the community. They provide health education through community outreach events, provider education sessions, and parent workshops. The program also works closely with other organizations such as Women Infants and Children (WIC), Long Beach Unified School District's Head Start program, Child Health and Disability Prevention programs, and other children's programs to promote educational outreach and encourage testing. In cases where a child has been exposed to lead, the program offers case management services through a Public Health Nurse who works with Environmental Health to test homes and provide guidance for lead abatement.

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Health and Human Services Director Alison King stressed the importance of early testing and good nutrition in preventing lead poisoning. She stated, "Parents should ask their child's doctor about blood lead testing, as it is the only way to know if a child has been exposed."

The Long Beach CLPPP also collaborates with the Lead Hazard Control Program, which is funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Health Department's Environmental Health Bureau. This program provides property owners of multi-unit properties with lead inspection and risk assessments and works with lead abatement contractors to make properties safe for children. The program also monitors Section 8 Housing through the Long Beach Housing Authority to ensure that properties are free from lead contamination.

To learn more about Lead Week, community members are encouraged to follow the Health Department on social media or visit their website for more information. They can also contact CLPPP directly via email or phone.

For more information about the Bureau of Environmental Health, visit their website. Let's work together as a community to protect our children from the dangers of lead poisoning.

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