The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) released state and county lead testing numbers recently as part of their 2020 State Lead Report Card. IDPH has set goals that 75% of children ages one and two are tested for elevated lead levels. At a state level, 70.2% of those under one year old are tested and 35.7% of those two and younger are given the test.

According to statistics released for Washington County, only 58% of children one year and under are tested and just 30.8% of two year and under children are tested. Up to six years old the study finds that just 18.7% of kids were administered tests for lead levels. When it comes to the two main risk factors for lead poisoning, 68% of housing in Washington County was built prior to 1979 and 10% of the population lives below the poverty level.

Iowa County had the lowest number of children 0-6 years old tested at just 18.6%. Jefferson County had the lowest number of children under the age of one tested at only 57% and the smallest number of those two or younger at 17.2% Highest risk factors were Keokuk County with 81% of their housing built prior to 1979 and Jefferson County with 12% of their population living below the poverty line.

IDPH reminds Iowans that 1,148 children under the age of six had elevated blood lead levels in 2020. For a full list of statistics visit this link.