The City of Minneapolis is recognizing National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Oct. 25-31, by raising awareness about the dangers of lead exposure and sharing ways residents can protect their families. Aligned with the theme by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Keep Kids Safe from Lead,” the dedicated week emphasizes the importance of identifying potential sources of lead in the home, preventing exposure and making sure children receive recommended testing.
Each year, hundreds of Minneapolis children are identified with elevated blood-lead levels. The City’s Health Department conducts environmental assessments and case management for all these children and their families.
“Protecting children from lead exposure starts with awareness, prevention and early testing,” said Alex Vollmer, Health Department Lead and Healthy Homes Manager. “We encourage families to learn about potential sources of lead in their homes and to talk with their health care providers about testing. Even when exposure isn’t obvious, taking these steps can help identify risks and protect children’s health.”
How the City helps residents
The number of children being tested for lead under the age of 18 has consistently increased in recent years. In 2023, more than 7,700 children were tested. More than 8,100 children were tested in 2025.
The City offers several resources to help with lead mitigation and testing, including:
- Home mitigation: If your child tests positive for lead poisoning, the City will send a Healthy Homes inspector to help find and remove the source. This includes inside and outside the home. Residents can also have their soil tested as there may be some lead contamination due to the use of leaded gasoline before 1979.
- Renovation grants: Funding is available to help you with home renovations, including the removal of lead hazards.
- Corrosion control: The City provides lead-free drinking water. To help keep lead from getting into the water, the City uses a process called corrosion control. This process adds a protective coating inside the pipes so lead cannot dissolve into the water.
- Replacing service lines: City contractors are also replacing lead service lines. Service lines connect properties to the water main in the street. This work is funded by state and federal grants at no cost to Minneapolis residents.
- Test drinking water: Residents can test their drinking water for lead by requesting a free water lead test kit from the City.
- Free lead testing for children: Our mobile testing lab visits communities throughout the year in the Leadie Eddie van. A blood test is the only way to know if your child has lead poisoning.
Lead testing opportunity
Residents can get their children tested during a community health fair. This event also offers an opportunity for community members to connect with health resources and learn more about protecting their families from lead exposure.
- When: Thursday, Oct. 29, from 4:30 – 7 p.m.
- Where: Sheridan Clinic, 342 13th Ave. NE.
- Watch and learn about the testing process
The City encourages caregivers to contact their health care provider about lead exposure or lead testing if their child is under the age of six, lives in a home or visits homes built before 1978 or if they have any general concerns about potential lead exposure.
Understanding the risks of lead exposure
Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems, particularly in young children. Exposure can contribute to developmental delays, learning and behavioral problems, slowed growth and hearing loss. Identifying and reducing exposure as early as possible is critical because there is no known safe level of lead exposure for children. Lead poisoning is avoidable, and knowing what the risks are is the first step to preventing exposure.
A common cause of lead exposure is dust from paint in homes built before 1978, the year the federal government banned residential use of lead-based paint. Hazardous dust from older homes is regularly found inside and outside the home on places such as windows, doors, and porch floors, as well as in the yard’s soil. Renovations or repairs that disturb painted surfaces can increase the risk of exposure.
The City has many resources available for families to learn about testing and ways to reduce risk for lead exposure: