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Prevent lead poisoning in kids

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Give Me One Minute

One minute is all you need to find out if your child might be at risk for lead poisoning. Take our quick quiz, and learn whether your child should be tested.

LEAD RISK QUESTIONNAIRE

Question 1/8

Is your child covered by or eligible for Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) or Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP)?

 

Question 2/8

Does your child live in or regularly visit homes built before 1978?

Question 3/8

Is your child a recent immigrant, refugee or foreign adoptee?

Question 4/8

Does your child have a relative or playmate who recently tested positive for lead poisoning?

Question 5/8

Does anyone in your home come into contact with lead at work or through hobbies? See list below.
  • Home repair or remodeling
  • Painter
  • Bridge or tunnel worker
  • Building construction or demolition
  • Pottery making
  • Battery or radiator repair
  • Stained glass-making
  • Metal scrap or recycling work
  • Fishing
  • Building or repairing ships or boats

Question 6/8

Does your family use home remedies or traditional medicines to treat illnesses? See list below.
  • Greta
  • Azarcon
  • Sindoor
  • Surma
  • Pay-loo-ah

Question 7/8

Does your child live or spend time near industrial areas that may release lead into the air, such as a mine, smelter, airports, or battery recycling plants?

Question 8/8

Do you know or suspect lead is a risk for your child’s health, or does your child exhibit symptoms of lead poisoning?

Symptoms can include:

  • Pica (eating non-food items such as dirt or paint chips)
  • Developmental issues (for example, inattention, hyperactivity, problems with learning, slow growth)

Results

Medicaid, CHP+, and CICP require lead screening tests at 12 and 24 months.

Ask your health care provider to test your child for lead at their 1 and 2 year check-ups, or at their next visit if they haven't been screened before. Your child’s health care provider covers this test — for free.

If your health care provider checks your child's blood for lead and finds out it is high, the provider can tell you about treatments.

Learn more about risk factors for lead poisoning.

Results

Your child likely has not come into contact with common sources of lead. However, if you still have concerns or want peace of mind, contact your child’s health care provider for a lead test.

Lead Poisoning Can be Prevented

Lead exposure can happen at home, daycare, or in the community—and the effects can last a lifetime. The good news? Early detection can help prevent further exposure and reduce the risk of additional harm.

Lead builds up in the body and affects brain growth, learning, and behavior. Babies and young children face the highest risk because their bodies absorb lead faster and they’re also growing the most.

A simple blood test at 12 and 24 months can catch lead early. Early detection and small changes at home can prevent lifelong problems. Ask your doctor for a lead test today!

Ways Your Child May Come into Contact with Lead

Lead can be found naturally in all parts of our environment and has been used in cookware, gasoline, paint, toys, cosmetics, glazes, pipes, food, and spices. Learn more about sources of lead and how to keep your family safe from lead exposure.

Take Action Now

Lead exposure can cause lifelong harm, but catching it early helps. Ask your doctor about a lead test for your child at 12 and 24 months.

Get Your Child Tested for Lead:

A lead test is the only way to know if your child has been exposed. Early testing can help prevent serious health effects and ensure healthy development.

How to Get a Lead Test:

  • Talk to your child’s doctor. Ask for a blood lead test at their 12- and 24-month checkups.
  • Check your local health department. Many offer free or low-cost lead testing. Find your local public health agency.
  • Ask about Medicaid or insurance coverage. Most plans cover lead testing for young children.

Don’t wait—lead poisoning is preventable, and early action makes all the difference. Schedule a test today or ask during your kid’s annual exam.

Every voice matters. Take action today to help protect children from lead exposure!