Lead-Safe Wisconsin

Lead damages the brain and other bodily systems—and its effects can last a lifetime. While lead can hurt anyone, the health effects of lead exposure are particularly damaging for kids under 6. Lead poisoning among children is typically caused by swallowing or breathing in dust from lead-based paint in homes that were built before 1978. We can prevent lead poisoning by getting rid of the danger before it harms children or others. Wisconsin’s goal is to eliminate the disease by making houses lead-safe, and by getting involved early to stop lead exposure.

Protect yourself and your family

• What is lead poisoning?
• How to prevent lead poisoning
• Sources of lead
• Lead in consumer products
• Lead in the workplace
• Test your child for lead

Keep your home lead-safe

• Before buying or renting
• Check for hazards
• Check lead company certification
• Find other funds to fix lead hazards
• Learn about the Lead-Safe Homes Program

Certified lead professionals

• Steps to certification
• Apply for certification
• Lead-safe renovation
• Find lead training
• Become a lead trainer
• Resources for lead investigators

Public health and community partners

• Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Surveillance System job aids
• Health care guidance
• Medicaid reimbursement
• Public health interventions
• Pediatric testing and reporting
• Universal testing recommendations
• Childcare center lead-in-water testing

Resources and tools

• Explore Wisconsin childhood lead data
• Forms and publications
• Lead information for adults
• Lead statutes and rules
• Tools for raising awareness

Contacts

• Contact the Childhood Lead Poisoning Program
• Contact the Lead and Asbestos Certification Program
• Contact the Adult Lead Program
• Receive email updates about lead in our environment from DHS
• Report unsafe lead or asbestos work

Related topic

In 2021, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) lowered the blood lead reference value from 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (µg/dL) to 3.5 µg/dL for children. For more information, visit the CDC's webpage about this update.