Health department, library offer free lead screenings in North Platte

Health department, library offer free lead screenings in North Platte

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - The West Central District Health Department partnered with the North Platte Public Library on Wednesday to offer free lead screenings to the community.

What was tested

People could bring in everyday household items, including toys, colorful pottery, spices and other products, to be tested for lead.

The event also offered on-site blood screenings to help identify potential lead exposure, along with educational resources on how to reduce lead hazards in the home.

The goal was to help community members identify potential sources of lead exposure and learn ways to protect themselves and their families.

Lead in imported goods

“So a lot of people assume since residential paint lead was prohibited in 1978 it’s not a concern any more but unfortunately there are a lot of imported goods that we get that still have lead in them. Spices there have been lot of recalls. A current recall just a couple days ago for fruit that was contaminated from Walmart. So lead poisoning in kids can cause developmental delays, learning disabilities, stunted growth, all kinds of things, organ and tissue damage. So r...