Public Health Madison & Dane County

Lead Poisoning & Testing

Parent and child smiling.

Kids under 6 years old are most at risk of lead poisoning. Most kids get lead poisoning from paint dust in homes built before 1978. Learn more about other ways kids can be poisoned in your home or community.

Even low levels of lead in children’s blood can cause:

  • Behavior problems and hyperactivity
  • Lower IQ and learning problems
  • Slowed growth
  • Hearing problems
  • Anemia

A lead test is the only way to know if a child has lead poisoning.

How do I get my child tested for lead poisoning?

Talk with your child’s health care provider about lead poisoning testing. Read more about testing recommendations.

If you don’t have health insurance call us at 608-243-0304 and ask to speak with the Lead Program Nurse.

How do I test my home for lead?

What do I do if my child is lead poisoned?

There is no safe blood level in children.  If your child has a blood lead level of 5 µg/dL or higher, we can help:

  • Assess your home and other places your child visits for lead.
  • Give you information about managing lead hazards in their home.
  • Make sure their lead level is going down. We may assess your child’s development and make sure they get medical care.

Where is there lead in our community?

Most kids get lead poisoning from paint dust in homes built before 1978. Learn more about other ways kids can be poisoned in your home or community. 

Lead in aviation gas 

Almost all emissions of lead into the air have been eliminated in Dane County. One remaining source of lead air pollution is gas used in some small planes.

Do you live within 0.62 miles of an airport that hosts small propeller planes? Talk to your healthcare provider about lead testing. Learn more about the risk of lead poisoning.

Learn more about childhood lead testing in Dane County. 

If you buy a home or rent an apartment:
  • If you buy or rent a home or apartment built before 1978, you must be told if there are lead hazards in the home.
  • It is against the law for you to be evicted or harassed if you complain about lead.
  • Call us at 608-242-6515 if you haven’t gotten information about lead hazards in your home or rental.
  • Learn how to do lead safe painting projects.

We work to prevent exposure to lead
  • We watch for lead in the community and provide recommendations to prevent lead poisoning.
  • We enforce the City of Madison lead ordinance to make sure property owners and contractors follow safe work practices when painting or remodeling older housing.

Learn more
Was this page helpful to you?

Lead Poisoning & Testing