Onondaga County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

04/20/2026

Do you work in homes built before 1978? Get lead-safe certified! Onondaga County offers EPA-accredited Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) trainings. These trainings give you the expertise and required certification to safely make repairs when lead-based paint could be disturbed. Onondaga County is funding scholarships to make this course FREE of charge for those who are looking to expand their work to include lead poisoning prevention efforts.

If you are interested in receiving your RRP certification, fill out the form here: https://redcap.vumc.org/surveys/?s=8YTADYHK7MFT3FFX.

04/15/2026

💧 Water Fact Wednesday 💧

Did you know that older homes may have lead service lines bringing water into the home or have lead-containing fixtures in indoor plumbing?

Standing water may have higher concentrations of lead and other contaminants from indoor pipes or plumbing fixtures. Protect your family by running the cold water for 30-60 seconds in the morning before using it for drinking or cooking! This will bring fresh, cold water into your home and flush out standing water in your household plumbing.

To learn more information about lead in water, visit: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/lead/

04/06/2026

🚨 UPDATE: The USDA has retracted this recall after follow-up testing found that the product is not a public health concern.
Learn more: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-frozen-dinosaur-shaped-ready-eat-chicken-nuggets-due
LEAD RECALL ALERT – The Great Value Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets have been reported as having high lead levels, posing a possible health risk. These items were shipped to Walmart and sold at stores nationwide. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to not consume them. The products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. The chicken nuggets were produced on February 10, 2026 and placed in 29-oz. plastic bags. The back of the bag has a lot code of 0416DPO1215 and an establishment number of P44164. Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854 or send a question via email to MPHhotline@usda.gov.

If your child has eaten this food item, consider having them tested for an elevated blood lead level. Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can cause permanent damage to the nervous system. This can result in learning disorders, developmental delays, and other long-term health problems.

For more information about blood lead testing, contact your child’s healthcare provider. If your child does not have a healthcare provider or if you have other questions, contact us at LeadFreeKids@ongov.net or call (315) 435-3271.

To read the full product recall, please visit: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-frozen-dinosaur-shaped-ready-eat-chicken-nuggets-due

04/06/2026

April is National Healthy Homes Month! If you live in a home built before 1978, your home likely contains lead paint. Lead paint in older homes is the most common because of high lead levels in children. If you rent an older home or apartment, are pregnant, or have children under the age of six living with you, you may be eligible for a FREE lead inspection!

For more information about home lead inspections, call (315-435-3271) or visit: https://onondaga.gov/health-lead/home-inspections/.

04/01/2026

Keeping kids healthy can feel like a big job, but getting them tested for lead is one of the simplest things you can check off the list. April blood lead testing is available with appointments and walk-ins welcome. Not sure if your child needs a test? Call (315) 435-3271, email LeadFreeKids@ongov.net, or fill out the quick form: https://redcap.link/r8076nak. A little test gives a lot of peace of mind.

03/18/2026

💧 Water Fact Wednesday 💧

Hot water from the tap should not be used for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula! It dissolves contaminants like lead from plumbing systems faster than cold water, leading to higher exposure.

Boiling water does not reduce the amount of lead in the water. It increases the concentration because the water evaporates while the lead remains.

• Flush the Pipes: If you have used hot water, run your cold water for several minutes to flush out any lead that may have leached into the pipes.
• Filter System: Install a water filter certified to remove lead, particularly for drinking and cooking water.

To learn more information about lead in water, visit:
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water

03/11/2026

LEAD RECALL ALERT – The KiddoSpace Children’s Christmas Tree Toy Play Sets have been recalled due to the zipper pull on the music box compartment having high lead levels, posing a possible health risk. They were sold at thekiddospacestore.com. Consumers who purchased this product are advised to keep the play sets away from their children. KiddoSpace can be contacted to receive a free toy replacement. Consumers will be asked to write “RECALLED” on the tree and submit a photo of the marked product to: info@kiddospace.com.

If your child has been in contact with this product, consider having them tested for an elevated blood lead level. Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can cause permanent damage to the nervous system. This can result in learning disorders, developmental delays, and other long-term health problems.

For more information about blood lead testing, contact your child’s healthcare provider. If your child does not have a healthcare provider or if you have other questions, contact us at LeadFreeKids@ongov.net or call (315) 435-3271.

To read the full product recall, please visit: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/TheKiddoSpace-Recalls-Childrens-Christmas-Tree-Play-Sets-Due-to-Risk-of-Injury-from-Lead-Exposure-Violates-Federal-Lead-Content-Ban-and-Mandatory-Standard-for-Toys

03/09/2026

LEAD RECALL ALERT – The KiddoSpace Children’s Flashcard Talking Toys have been recalled due to the flashcards having high lead levels, posing a possible health risk. They were sold at Amazon.com and thekiddospacestore.com. Consumers who purchased this product are advised to keep the flashcard talking toy away from their children. The KiddoSpace can be contacted to receive a free replacement toy or USB cable.

-For the animal-shaped toy, consumers will be asked to write “RECALLED” in permanent marker on the unit and submit a photo of the marked product to info@thekiddospace.com to receive a replacement toy of at least equal value to the purchase price of the recalled animal-shaped toy. Consumers should then dispose of the recalled toys in accordance with their local waste disposal requirements.

-For the rectangular toy, consumers will be asked to cut the USB cable and submit a photo of the cut USB cable to info@thekiddospace.com to receive a free replacement USB cable. Consumers should then dispose of the cut USB cable.

If your child has been in contact with this product, consider having them tested for an elevated blood lead level. Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can cause permanent damage to the nervous system. This can result in learning disorders, developmental delays, and other long-term health problems.

For more information about blood lead testing, contact your child’s healthcare provider. If your child does not have a healthcare provider or if you have other questions, contact us at LeadFreeKids@ongov.net or call (315) 435-3271.

To read the full product recall, please visit:
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/TheKiddoSpace-Recalls-Childrens-Flashcard-Talking-Toys-Due-to-Risk-of-Injury-from-Lead-and-Phthalate-Exposure-Violates-Federal-Lead-Content-and-Phthalates-Bans-and-Standard-for-Toys

03/06/2026

Join our Public Health Educator at the Access CNY Family Engagement Event to learn about Lead Poisoning Prevention! Friday, March 13, 12:00-1:00 pm or register at the Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/-pfzzu-CTzGRl74cQOlFfA

Lead poisoning is preventable. Join us to learn how.

At this month’s Family Engagement Event, we welcome Public Health Educator Stephanie Carbone with the Onondaga County Health Department to present Protecting Kids from Lead Poisoning, a guide for families to learn about lead poisoning, what testing looks like, and practical prevention tips and resources to keep children safe and healthy.

🗓 Friday, March 13
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 1603 Court Street or join virtually via Zoom

This is about prevention, awareness, and making sure every child in our community has the opportunity to grow and thrive in a safe environment.

RSVP with how you’ll attend:
📧 Karen.Fuller@accesscny.org
📱 Call or text 315-410-3369

Strong families. Safe homes. Healthy futures.

03/06/2026

LEAD RECALL ALERT – The KiddoSpace Print and Cursive Handwriting Kits have been recalled due to the pens having high lead levels, posing a possible health risk. They were sold at Amazon.com and thekiddospacestore.com. Consumers who purchased this product are advised to keep the pens away from their children and dispose of them. The KiddoSpace can be contacted at info@thekiddospace.com to receive free replacement pens and refills.

If your child has been in contact with this product, consider having them tested for an elevated blood lead level. Children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can cause permanent damage to the nervous system. This can result in learning disorders, developmental delays, and other long-term health problems.

For more information about blood lead testing, contact your child’s healthcare provider. If your child does not have a healthcare provider or if you have other questions, contact us at LeadFreeKids@ongov.net or call (315) 435-3271.

To read the full product recall, please visit: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/TheKiddoSpace-Recalls-Childrens-Handwriting-Practice-Kits-Due-to-Risk-of-Injury-from-Lead-Exposure-Violates-Federal-Lead-Content-Ban

03/03/2026

To celebrate National Nutrition Month, we are teaming up with the Creating Healthy Schools & Communities (CHSC) Program for a special giveaway! Throughout the month, we’ll be giving away nutrition bags filled with helpful supplies. To get your nutrition bag, come see us at food pantries and fresh food giveaways around the City of Syracuse! Check out the dates and locations below to see where we’ll be in the community!

03/03/2026

March is National Nutrition Month! Did you know certain foods can prevent lead poisoning? Foods rich in Iron, Calcium, and Vitamin C can help prevent lead from being absorbed into the blood!

Healthy Foods to Eat:

Iron: Dry cereals, ground beef, spinach, potatoes.

Calcium: Low-fat yogurt, broccoli, cheese, greens.

Vitamin C: Oranges, strawberries, sweet potatoes.

Eat Healthy to Fight Lead!

To learn more information about lead-fighting foods, visit: https://onondaga.gov/health-lead/protecting-children/