LEAD POISONING IS STILL AN ISSUE FOR NEW MEXICO CHILDREN. BUT HEIDI KRAPFL WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TELLS US THE SOURCES HAVE CHANGED AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY LINKED TO LEAD PAINT. SHE SAYS ONE SOURCE FOR NEW MEXICO IS CANDY THAT COMES IN FROM MEXICO.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU. KRAPFL SAYS THERE ARE SOME OCCUPATIONS IN WHICH WORKERS CAN UNWITTINGLY TAKE HOME LEAD, LIKE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, THERE ARE ALSO HOBBIES THAT LEAVE A LEAD RESIDUE ON THE PERSON. THOSE INCLUDE SHOOTING AT A SHOOTING RANGE. SHE SAYS IF SHOOTERS LOAD THEIR OWN AMMO, THEY CAN BRING HOME LEAD AS WELL.
KIDS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID ARE ALL REQUIRED TO BE TESTED BECAUSE THEY’RE MORE AT RISK FOR LEAD POISONING. KRAPFL SAYS THE HIGHEST RATE OF LEAD POISONING AMONG NEW MEXICO CHILDREN IS IN SANDOVAL COUNTY. 1-POINT-25 PERCENT OF CHILDREN THERE YOUNGER THAN SIX YEARS OLD TESTED POSITIVE FOR LEAD POISONING. SHE’S NOT SURE WHY.
