Brain and Nervous System, Child Health, Environmental Health

Why testing for lead helps kids…and how you can get free testing

By Meredith Li-Vollmer, Public Health – Seattle & King County

Lead exposure can harm brain growth in young children, so it’s important for toddlers and preschoolers to be tested for lead if they have any of the risk factors. 

This month, we’re partnering with Best Starts for KidsVirginia Mason, and the King County Medical Society to offer Lead Testing Days at pop-up locations throughout King County! Get your child tested for free at any of these events:

Bonus: a comic strip helps explain how lead affects children’s growing brains

We also worked with Seattle artist Amy Camber on a comic strip to help parents understand how testing for lead helps children and why it’s so beneficial to get them tested when they’re age six and younger.












For more information about lead and to see your neighborhood’s risk for lead, go to www.doh.wa.gov/lead

Artwork by Amy Camber, written by Meredith Li-Vollmer. 

Originally posted on August 5, 2019.