The Burlington County Health Department and Virtua Community Nursing Services will be conducting a community child lead screening at the Keegan Recreational center located at 522 Wood Street, Burlington, NJ 08016 on Thursday, June 13 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additionally, community child lead screenings will be conducted at various County libraries throughout the month of June.
The dates and locations for the child lead screenings at the County libraries are as follows:
- Monday, June 24, 2019 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Riverton Library, 306 Main Street, Riverton, NJ 08077
- Monday, June 24, 2019 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Cinnaminson Library, 1619 Riverton Road, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077
- Tuesday, June 25, 2019 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Maple Shade Library, 200 Stiles Avenue, Maple Shade, NJ 08052
- Tuesday, June 25, 2019 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Pinelands Library, 39 Allen Avenue, Medford, NJ 08055
- Tuesday, June 25, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Evesham Library, 984 Tuckerton Road, Marlton, NJ 08053
“In an effort to get even more children screened, we have partnered with Virtua to host additional opportunities for families to have their children screened for elevated blood lead levels with community screenings planned throughout the county at several libraries,” said Burlington County Health Department Director Dr. Herb Conaway. “Early identification of lead toxicity means more timely intervention to prevent the devastating, life-long effects of lead exposure. We are hoping parents take advantage of this program.”
The CDC estimates that at least 4 million US households have children living in them that are being exposed to high levels of lead, and approximately half a million US children age 1-5 years have blood lead levels above 5 μg/dl, the reference level at which CDC recommends public health actions be initiated. The primary exposure to lead in children in the United States is through lead-based paint, but unknown to many, lead is also in many products, such as makeup, toys, jewelry, zippers, and imported ceramics (plates, bowls, mugs).
In addition to the community lead screenings, free walk-in child lead screenings continue to take place at the Burlington County Health Department every Monday from 9 a.m. to noon, and Tuesdays from 12:30 – 1:30* (*exception of June 4, 9 a.m. to noon; no walk-in available June 18). Appointments also available upon request by calling 609-914-8550.
For questions about lead in the home, call the national hotline 1-800-424-LEAD (5323). Other resources include the Southern Regional Lead and Healthy Homes Coalition at 856-665-6000, the Burlington County Health Department Lead Program at 609-265-5515, and the state of New Jersey Lead Safe program https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/leadsafe.html.