lead poisoning

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule this week to protect kids from lead paint in homes and child care centers. Kids exposed to lead can have trouble learning, behavioral issues and poor kidney function.

While none of the kids had blood lead levels high enough to trigger the state to take action, they did have high levels in their bones.

Six months ago, Indiana lowered the threshold for when children with lead in their blood can start to receive services -- cutting it in half from 10 micrograms per deciliter to 5. That means local health departments are doing more home visits, educating more parents and informing more doctors when a child has elevated lead levels.

The state adopted an emergency rule last month to lower the threshold for when public health agencies have to address elevated blood lead levels in children -- and will consider making the change permanent.

A rehabbed lot on Indianapolis' Far Eastside is now part of a pilot project and research study to determine if transforming these spaces can mitigate lead exposure.

Indiana is considering lowering its threshold for when public health agencies address elevated blood lead levels in children — based on a nearly decade-old recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency recently changed that threshold again — and it’s unclear if the state will follow suit.