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Lead Contamination in Scott County Iowa

Lead is a potent toxin that has long been used for various industrial applications. Most commonly used for exterior and interior painting, lead was banned in 1978 once strong evidence indicated that it is an extremely dangerous element that leads to a multitude of neurological conditions. Scott County, Iowa has experienced high levels of child lead poisoning since 2000, having over 1,600 documented poisonings, bringing Scott County four times over the national average. The Upper Mississippi Center is working toward a solution to this problem through research into the presence of lead in local homes, with 27 homes sampled, and a partnership with the Scott County Health Department, the results proved to be helpful in finding an end to this epidemic. The data recorded from paint, dust, and house conditions of each location showed general trends that may be used to assist in solving this country wide epidemic. There were strong direct correlations with the condition of windows and the number of lead hazards within a home, as well the elevated lead levels in dust having relation to the renter occupancy. Careful analysis of the sampled data has proven to be fruitful in identifying homes that may have lead present at toxic levels.