Page 18 - Delaware Medical Journal - January/February 2020
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Delaware Can Make Progress to Eliminate Childhood Exposure to Lead
Jonathan M. Miller, MD
In 2019, the Delaware General Assembly considered two bills focused on childhood lead poisoning.
both chambers and was signed by Governor John Carney, updates the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Committee to include nine members, with the power to seat non- members on advisory subcommittees. The Committee is charged with making recommendations to improve lead poisoning prevention.
The second bill, House Bill 166, which did not become law but remains under consideration, would mandate that Delaware health care providers
order a blood test to screen for lead poisoning at or around 24 months of age (a requirement already mandated for those children enrolled in the Medicaid program). The current Delaware law requires an order for a blood test for this purpose at or around 12 months of age.1
although children’s average blood
lead levels nationally have declined dramatically since the 1970s, too many Delaware children are still at risk. The medical community is well aware of the tragic and permanent effects of lead poisoning — from learning disabilities to behavioral problems, and, at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even
death. No safe blood lead level has been
Primary and secondary prevention
are both essential components of lead poisoning prevention policy. There is
no question that children who have
and parents need to be provided with essential tools, including medical and developmental monitoring, nutrition,
and home cleaning advice, as well as case management and access to early invention services. These services can make a difference for children. However, all experts agree that focusing largely on testing and providing services misses the larger point: lead poisoning is entirely
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Del Med J | January/February 2020 | Vol. 92 | No. 1
