LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – The La Crosse County Health Department is offering lead tests at no cost for families.
As of January 1, 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services updated testing recommendations so that all children should be tested at age 1, and again at age 2. They add that all children between the ages of 3 and 5 should be tested if they have not been already.
After seeing 14 cases of childhood lead poisoning last year, La Crosse County public health nurses are encouraging families to take advantage of free lead testing services.
Health officials say poisoning can come from older homes that have lead-based paint.
The La Crosse County Health Department wants more families to have their children tested after over 1,500 children aged one or two in the county did not gest tested last year.
“The effects of elevated lead levels in little ones can be permanent. It can cause developmental delays. Physical, cognitive, or behavioral delays can happen when a child has elevated lead levels. Unfortunately, the only way to know is by testing them,” says public health nurse Shana Steedle.
For more information on lead tests and how to get them, you can visit here.
Copyright 2025 WEAU. All rights reserved.