Lead Poisoning Isn’t Gone— We’re Just Not Looking Hard Enough

The real problem: we’re missing it

The only way to know if someone has been exposed to lead is with a blood test. Most children exposed to lead won’t show any obvious symptoms. The impacts may surface years later as learning difficulties, behavioral challenges, or developmental delays.

And yet, in Washington, only about 9% of children younger than 6 years are tested.

Plus, despite a Medicaid requirement that all enrolled children be tested for lead at 12 and 24 months of age, only 3% of Washington children enrolled in Medicaid met this requirement in a 2023 performance audit.

That means many cases simply aren’t being identified. We’re not seeing the full scope of the problem—not because it doesn’t exist, but because we’re not measuring blood lead levels.

Progress is happening

There are efforts underway to close this gap. Increasing access to testing is one of the most effective ways to catch exposure early and prevent long-lasting harm. Community-based programs and local partnerships, including this one at Seattle Children’s funded by Molina Healthcare, are expanding access to lead screening and bringing testing into more clinics and neighborhoods.

There is still a lot of work to be done, however, as too many families remain unaware of the risks in their environments and the need for testing.

Lead poisoning is preventable…

But only if we take it seriously. Right now, we’re under-testing, under-detecting, and underestimating its impact. Building awareness is an essential next step.

We created a series of simple videos that talk about lead and the importance of blood lead testing. Please share Larry the Lead and his story with your community!

Additional resources:

• Lead risk checklist for parents and caregivers
• Facts about lead and its human effects
• Common sources of lead poisoning