If you are in danger, call 911. If you need to exit this website quickly, click on the ESCAPE button. This button will immediately open a browser window for weather.com and replace your current window with google.com.

Lead can be very harmful, especially to young children. The most important step parents can take is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs.

  • Childhood lead poisoning at low levels may make learning difficult, interfere with growth, harm hearing and delay development.  
  • Childhood lead poisoning at high levels may cause coma, convulsions and even death.

Lead can be found throughout a child's environment, including:

  • homes built before 1978 that contain lead-based paint
    • peeling and cracking paint makes lead dust that can poison children when they swallow or breathe in the dust
  • certain water pipes
  • some consumer products, such as some toys and jewelry
  • some candies imported from other countries or traditional home remedies
  • certain jobs and hobbies involve working with lead-based products may cause parents to bring lead into the home.

Lead Paint Inspection and Removal

​Lead Resources

Lead Information Line: 1-800-440-LEAD

Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance​ Dashboard(opens in a new tab)

Lead Surveillance Program

Lead Poisoning FAQs

Lead Poisoning Prevention Training

The Importance of Childhood Blood Lead Testing(opens in a new tab)    

Testing Children for Lead Poisoning | Lead | CDC

Contact Us

Bureau of Family Health
Division of Child & Adult Health Services
Health and Human Services Building 
625 Forster St. 
Seventh Floor, East Wing    
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0701
717-772-2762