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Lead Poisoning in Wisconsin: Where Children Live Makes a Difference

These maps of counties and select cities across Wisconsin demonstrate the association of childhood lead poisoning and its source, lead-based paint in old housing (pre-1950). The maps combine data from the 2000 U.S. Census which indicates the location of old housing in the specified geographic areas with blood lead testing data from the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program from 1995 to 2001.  Lead poisoning is defined as a blood lead level greater than or equal to 10 micrograms per deciliter.

Explanation of the 3-views

Map 1 - The top left-hand map shows different shaded areas with each shade representing the percentage of houses built prior to 1950. The greater the percent of houses built prior to 1950, the darker the shading. Houses built prior to 1950 in Wisconsin have a high probability of containing paint with a high concentration of lead. If the paint is in poor condition it poses a serious threat to children’s health.

Map 2 - The bottom left-hand map shows the locations of children who have been tested for lead poisoning over the period of 1995-2001.

Map 3 - The larger right-hand map indicates the locations of children who have been lead poisoned (a blood lead 

level of greater than or equal to 10 micrograms per deciliter). The overlap between the red dots and dark green shaded areas represents the relation between pre-1950 housing and children who are lead poisoned.  While many children have been tested (Map 2), in most communities those with lead poisoning are more often found in areas with a high proportion of pre-1950 housing (Map 3).

Maps Available

For more information about these GIS maps, please contact the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, 608/266-5817.

Other information available at the following links:

• Prevalence of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in U.S. Housing (PDF) (Exit DHS - Department of Housing and Urban Development) The Department of Housing and Urban Development published a document about lead and housing conditions. 
• Scorecard (Exit DHS - Scorecard) A website designed to focus on various factors to estimate lead hazards in the U.S. and provide information on prevention tools.
• U.S. Census Bureau - Fact Finder 

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Last Revised: October 24, 2008