Welcome to LeadSAFE Erie County, the Erie County Department of Health’s (ECDOH) program to prevent lead poisoning. You will find information here for Erie County parents about preventing lead poisoning in children, including trainings, programs, and services available to you from the ECDOH and our community partners.
To have your tap water tested for lead, contact the Erie County Public Health Lab at (716) 898-6100.
Eleven zip codes in Erie County have been designated by the New York State Department of Health as “Communities of Concern”: 14201, 14204, 14206, 14207, 14208, 14210, 14211, 14212, 14213, 14214, 14215, and 14225 (west of I-90). Children who live in these zip codes are at exceptionally high risk for lead poisoning. Communities of Concern Map.
Was your house built before 1978?
If so, then you should assume that your home has lead in it and take steps to protect your household and reduce the risk of lead poisoning. Use the database below to find out what year the house you are living in was built.
Children and Lead Poisoning
Every year hundreds of children under the age of 6 years old are diagnosed with elevated blood lead levels in Erie County. Thousands more are exposed to lead hazards in their homes every day. Conditions that can cause lead poisoning can be found anywhere in Erie County, however they are especially found in neighborhoods that have a high amount of older housing.
How Are Children Poisoned by Lead?
Lead is a metal that is found in the earth, and it is used in industry to make surface coatings and glazes, car batteries, and other things. Lead dust is the most common way children are poisoned by lead. A very small amount of lead will poison a child.
Places where lead is found include:
- Paint and Dust: Until 1978, lead was used in many house paints. Even today, chipping and peeling lead paint in homes can lead to unsafe levels of lead in house dust. Lead in Paint & Dust Fact Sheet
- Soil: Lead in Soil Fact Sheet
- Water: Lead in Water Fact Sheet
- Other Sources: Alternative Sources of Lead Fact Sheet
- Flyer: Places where lead is found around your home
Prevention Starts at Home!
Lead poisoning can cause learning and behavior problems. At very high levels it can cause seizures, coma and even death. Young children are especially at risk. There is NO treatment to permanently reverse the harmful effects of lead in children, so we must prevent it.
Ways to keep children safe include:
- Clean often: Make your cleaning count and wash lead out (Su limpieza es importante: lave el plomo para eliminarlo). Damp cleaning will help to keep children from being exposed to lead. Lead dust is the most common source of lead poisoning.
- Eat a healthy diet: Lead and Diet Fact Sheet. Eating healthy will help to keep lead from being absorbed into a child’s body.
- Flyer: Keep Your Child Safe from Lead
- Publication: Let's Talk about Lead [English | español (Spanish) | عربى (Arabic) | বাংলা (Bengali) | Kiswahili (Swahili) | မြန်မာဘာသာ (Burmese)]
- Training For Homeowners: In these classes you will learn how to work safely around lead when remodeling, repairing, or painting your home. Every year hundreds of children are diagnosed with lead poisoning due to exposure to lead during home repairs and renovations.
- Reach out! Contact our lead poisoning programs for additional support and resources.