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Oct. 18, 2005

Health Alert . . . Health Alert . . . Health Alert . . .

WHAT: Woodbridge Hosts Lead Screening Day for Children 1-5

 WHEN: Monday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. – noon, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

 WHERE: Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza, Woodbridge

The Woodbridge Health and Human Services Department will offer a lead poisoning screening clinic for children ages 1-5 , Mayor Frank G. Pelzman has announced.

The screening takes place Oct. 24 from 10 a.m.-noon p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Woodbridge Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza, Woodbridge . The screening is free to Woodbridge residents, and there is no registration required. Call (732) 855-0600 x 5011 for information.

According to the New Jersey Interagency Lead Poisoning Prevention Task Force, 3% of New Jersey children tested in 2003 were found to have a blood lead level at or above 10 micrograms per deciliter – the level the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated may cause health and/or developmental problems in children.

“The number of children with elevated blood lead levels has been dropping in New Jersey over the last decade,” says Mayor Pelzman. “We want to get as many children tested as possible to keep that rate declining.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children at high risk of lead poisoning have their blood levels tested at 12 and 24 months (or at 24 and 36 months if not tested earlier), especially if they reside in housing built before 1960.