Physician's Handbook on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Appendix K
Risk Assessment Questions
Assessment of risk for high-does lead exposure should be done at each well-child visit, beginning at six months of age. The 1991 CDC Statement suggested five questions to assess risk of high-does lead exposure. The DOH/AAP District II Task Force recommended use of the five questions from CDC and added a sixth.
- Does your child live in or regularly visit a house with peeling or chipping paint built before 1960? This could include a day care center, preschool, the home of a babysitter or a relative.
- Does your child live in or regularly visit a house built before 1960 with recent, ongoing or planned renovation or remodeling?
- Does your child have a brother or sister, housemate or playmate being followed or treated for lead poisoning?
- Does your child frequently come in contact with an adult whose job or hobby involves exposure to lead? Occupational examples are house painting, renovations, constructions, welding or pottery making. Hobby examples are making stained glass or pottery, fishing, making firearms and collecting lead figurines.
- Does your child live near an active lead smelter, battery recycling plant or other industry likely to release lead?
- Does your child live near a heavily traveled major highway where soil and dust may be contaminated with lead?
Additional questions should be asked when there are conditions in the community known to be conducive to high-does lead exposure. For example, in New York City, a provider may also ask if a child lives near a bridge or elevated train where soil or dust may be contaminated with lead.