LEAD SAFETY: Hoboken Announces Free Screenings for Children

Lead is weighing heavily as a safety concern in the wake of the findings in Flint, Michigan. Meanwhile, the alarm continues to sound closer to home as more and more locations reveal an unsettling exposure to the toxic element.

We’ve discussed the issues facing our drinking water, yet lead contamination can come from a myriad of other sources. With that in mind, the City of Hoboken is offering a free blood lead screening on April 21^st and 28^th from 9:00am to 11:00am and 12:00pm to 2:00pm in the community room of the Multi Service Center (124 Grand Street) for children under the age of 18, at-risk pregnant women, and adults involved in the renovation, remediation, demolition and/or other Superstorm Sandy recovery activities.

A copy of the blood lead screening results will be provided to each individual or the child’s parent or legal guardian. In addition to the results, lead safety educational materials will be provided and discussed which will include but are not limited to the following:

• The effects of lead poisoning
• Prevention of lead poisoning
• Nutritional guidelines
• Lead exposure in cosmetics, cultural remedies, toys, and cookware
• Common household conditions that may contain lead hazards
• Lead Poisoning Testing Schedule

The screening is being conducted by the Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with the City of Hoboken and the office of Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro. The Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services has a Memorandum of Understanding for the cities in Hudson County to provide Case Management for the County and has been appointed by the New Jersey Department of Health to provide testing for the County. Funding is provided by the Social Service Block Grant Supplemental for Superstorm Sandy Recovery.