All children in Illinois must receive blood lead tests at ages 12 months and 24 months under a state law that took effect July 1.
The Cook County Department of Public Health announced the reminder Oct. 26 during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which runs Oct. 25–31. The law replaces the old system, which required testing only for children living in high-risk ZIP codes.
For Park Ridge and Niles families, the change means pediatricians should order lead tests at well-child visits regardless of neighborhood.
Children 6 years old and younger must also receive a lead exposure risk assessment through a questionnaire from their health care provider, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Lower threshold triggers county help
Illinois also lowered the blood lead level that triggers a public health response to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL). The previous threshold was higher, though the exact prior level was not specified in county or state announcements.
When a child's confirmed blood lead level hits that mark, Cook County Department of Public Health sends a public health nurse for a home visit, conducts a free home inspection for lead and provides free home repairs for eligible families.
"It's imperative that parents get their children tested for lead early and that parents take necessary steps to reduce exposure to lead," said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of Cook County Department of Public Health, in the Oct. 26 announcement.
$6.2 million federal grant
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently awarded $6.2 million to Cook County Department of Public Health for lead remediation over the next four years. Officials expect the funding to support lead removal in up to 201 homes and apartments during that period.
Between 2021 and 2025, the department provided lead remediation services to 165 homes and apartments across suburban Cook County.
Who qualifies for free repairs
Cook County launched its "Lead-Safe Cook County" campaign in January to connect eligible residents with free lead removal services. To qualify, homes must have been built before 1978, families must earn less than 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI), and a child under 6 must live in or frequently visit the home. The program is open to both homeowners and renters. More information is available at Lead-SafeCookCounty.com.
Applications are on a waiting list and will reopen next spring, according to the department.
More than two-thirds of Cook County homes were built before 1978, when lead-based paint was banned. Each year, about 200 children in suburban Cook County test positive for elevated blood lead levels, according to the department.
