Washington County Public Health provides a lead testing clinic for young children on the first Tuesday morning of every month. The State of Iowa mandates that testing is required for any child who is about to enter Kindergarten. Washington County Public Health Administrator Emily Tokheim says that these tests are a way to get in front of what could be a significant health problem.

“Children are more vulnerable to lead poisoning, with lead often being found in the ground in the paint of old houses and toys, and those negative effects can lead to neurological deficits. We like to test for lead as often as we can so that we can educate the families on how their child is being exposed to lead and what the negative consequences are.” 

The clinic is set to begin at 1 pm on July 5th at the Washington Public Health Office. If you want more information about these clinics, you can contact Washington County Public Health or visit their website.