Lead poisoning is the number one environmental illness of children, with the most common exposures being the ingestion of paint chips or contaminated dust in older homes. According to Knox County Health Department Director of Public Health and Community Engagement Erin Olson, universal testing for lead exposure in children is now required:
“There is universal testing that has just started in the state. They are universal testing for all children and if they come up high, they are referred to the health department, to our nurse, who not only works with them on nutrition and getting that better, but they also go into the homes and do the lead testing with the paint. They are testing windowsills, walls, and cribs to see where the high lead levels are in the home. They go in and they give them a list of what needs to be painted and what needs to be cleaned.”
Effective July 1st, 2026, lead testing is required for all Illinois children at the ages of 12 and 24 months, as well as when certain circumstances apply.
