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1. Who is most affected by lead poisoning?

Those affected most by lead poisoning are:
- Pregnant women and the fetus
- Children from birth to 6 years of age.

Poisoned children may have no visible illness or symptoms. Children at risk for lead poisoning live in or frequent buildings built before 1978 with deteriorated lead-based paint.

Learn how lead-poisoning affects learning by accessing our informational document (PDF).

2. Why is lead-based paint a danger?

Lead is a highly toxic metal that "mimics" the essential mineral calcium, finding its way into the soft tissues of a child’s liver, kidneys and brain. Just a slight amount of lead can disrupt a child's development, causing learning and behavioral problems. A child may have lead poisoning and not feel sick.

3. How can I test my children for lead?

Contact your physician or local health department. The Guilford County Public Health Department (336-845-7699) offers free blood lead testing for children under the age of 6. All children in Guilford County, under 6 years, are required by county ordinance to be tested for lead in their blood prior to entering any state approved or licensed child care facilities, child care home, preschool, nursery school, elementary school or other child care facilities.

4. How can I learn more?

To find more resources and information from other websites, visit our Resources and Links page.

5. Is there a list of homes that have been made "lead-safe" by the city?

To see a list of homes that have been made "lead-safe" by High Point, visit our Lead Safe Registry page.