The Pasadena Public Health Department’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program seeks to protect children from lead exposure in four important ways: by screening for lead, managing treatment, educating parents and organizing and investigating possible lead exposure in the Pasadena community.
Contacts
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
1845 N. Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103 Map »
626-744-6117 (Tel) | 626-744-6115 (Fax)
clppp@cityofpasadena.net
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Lead Recalls
Lead can be found in jewelry, toys, and even food. Click here to view recent product recalls due to high lead levels.
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Background
Lead poisoning during childhood is a major but preventable environmental health problem in Pasadena. Lead can harm a child’s brain, making it hard for a child to learn, pay attention and behave. Lead can enter a child’s body through ingestion and skin contact with items containing lead. It will remain in the blood without treatment.
A very small amount of lead can lead to poisoning–just enough lead to equal one granule of sugar each day over a period of time will raise a child’s blood lead level enough to require treatment. A child with lead poisoning may not seem sick, but some children may have stomach problems, trouble sleeping, less energy than normal or may have problems concentrating.
Lead can be found in many places inside and outside your home, such as
- Lead-based paint (pre-1978)
- Lead-contaminated soil, especially near busy roadways or factories
- Lead-contaminated dust from paint or soil
- Take-home exposure in dust from work or certain hobbies. See CDPH's Common Jobs, Hobbies & Other Sources of Lead.
- For more detailed list and information, please visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
The Pasadena Public Health Department’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program seeks to protect children from lead exposure.
Occupations related to lead exposure
Some jobs may create lead dust or fumes that are not seen, but can be brought home. The lead dust can get on your hands, face, clothes and shoes, and then get in your car and on furniture and carpets. A young child can then eat these small particles and become sick. Know your risk and prevention methods by reviewing this brochure.
Environment
If a child’s healthcare provider informs the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) that the child’s blood lead level is elevated, a home investigation to find the source of lead may be initiated to prevent further exposure.
If you are a resident of Pasadena and you are concerned about lead exposure from renovation, repair or painting of your home or a neighbor’s home, please call the Pasadena Public Health Department at (626) 744-6117. An Environmental Health Specialist may be assigned to discuss your concerns.
Home Renovations
Are you thinking of fixing up your older home? Homes built before 1978 may have lead in the paint. Do not scrape or sand paint on your home unless you know it does not have lead in it. Scraping and sanding old paint can create dangerous lead dust. You and your family can swallow or breathe in lead dust. Have your paint tested for lead. Keep your family safe from lead and hire a CA state lead professional. For a list of professionals near you, visit the California Department of Public Health’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch website.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (EPA RRP Rule) aims to protect lead-based paint hazards associated with renovation, repair and painting activities. These activities can create hazardous lead dust when the surfaces with lead paint are disturbed. This rule requires workers to be certified and trained in the use of lead-safe work practices, and requires renovation, repair, and painting firms to be EPA-certified.
For more information, visit the Lead Free Homes website.
For more information on the EPA RRP Rule, visit https://www.epa.gov/lead.
For more information about your local household hazardous waste program visit: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-works/recycling-resources/universal-hazardous-waste-recycling/household-hazardous-waste/
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Prevention Tips
There is no safe blood lead level in children that has been identified. Lead can hurt your child. Lead poisoning can make it hard for children to learn, pay attention, and behave. Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick. Lead poisoning is preventable. There are many ways parents can reduce a child’s exposure to lead.
Lead Poisoning Prevention Infographic
- Do not let your child chew on painted surfaces or eat paint chips.
- Wash your child’s hands and toys often.
- Talk to your child’s doctor about testing for lead. The only way to know if your child has lead in his or her body is for your child to get blood test for lead. Most children get tested at 1 and 2 years old.
- Keep your home clean and dust-free.
- Keep furniture away from paint that is chipped or peeling.
- Never sand, dry scrap, power wash or sandblast paint. There may also be lead in the dirt around your home from the past.
- For more detailed list and information, please visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
See CDC’s Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning and CDPH’s Preventing Lead Poisoning in Children and Adults
Community Engagement
Community Education and Meetings
The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program educates organizations, parent groups and caregivers about how to prevent lead poisoning at home, at school or daycare and anywhere else children frequent. To request a presentation or education session, please call (626) 744-6117.
We also hold quarterly meetings with our community partners to share new information and network. If you would like more information about our next collaborative meeting please call (626) 744-6117.
Case Management
A public health nurse may be assigned to the child and his or her family when elevated blood lead levels are detected to help manage the child’s treatment and care. Clients with elevated blood lead levels will be referred to their medical provider for medical management. If the child does not have a regular medical provider, the nurse will refer the family to a medical provider.
Brochures and Flyers
For Providers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that lead screening should begin at 9 to 12 months of age and be considered again at approximately 24 months of age when blood lead levels peak. The Pasadena Public Health Department recommends all children get blood lead level screenings, and requires all of its clinics in the service area to conduct screenings to detect and prevent lead exposure.
For more information about lead screening recommendations, please visit the California Department of Public Health’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch.
Resources
- Standard of Care on Screening for Childhood Lead Poisoning
- California Management Guidelines on Childhood Lead Poisoning for Health Care Providers
- Public Health Services Available for Lead-Exposed Children
Clinics and Laboratories in Pasadena that Offer Lead Testing:
Quest Diagnostics Locations
Quest Diagnostics Pasadena East Green
960 E Green St. Ste. 164
Pasadena, CA 91106-2405
Phone: (626) 240-8923
Quest Diagnostics Pasadena North Madison
65 N Madison Ave Ste.
305 Pasadena, CA 91101-2048
Phone: (626) 243-8764
Quest Diagnostics Pasadena Bellefontaine
50 Bellefontaine St. Ste. 101
Pasadena, CA 91105-3132
Phone: (323) 379-6039
LabCorp Locations
LABCORP
960 E Green St Ste 290
Pasadena, CA 91106
Phone: (626) 440-1774
LABCORP
310 S Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: (626) 831-9550
LABCORP
50 Alessandro Pl Ste A10,
Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: (626) 535-9472
Other sites
Advanced Urgent Care of Pasadena
797 S Arroyo Parkway
Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: (626) 304-0404
Huntington Health – Pasadena Congress
10 Congress Street, Ste 208,
Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: (626) 397-5792
Product Recalls
For more information about recent recalls due to Lead standard violations please visit the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission website.
Recent product recalls due to Violation of Lead Standard
• September 30, 2026
This item was sold at various retail locations from 11/18/2025 through 9/7/2026. This item was recalled on 9/24/2026. VIEW MORE.
• September 21, 2026
This item was sold at Amazon.com from May 2024 through July 2026. This item was recalled on September 10, 2026. VIEW MORE.
• July 28, 2026
The cup in the lunch box is being recalled because it contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. VIEW MORE.
• June 15, 2026
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to stop using Darice “Timeless Minis” red wagons, watering cans, and chairs immediately. The toys exceed the lead paint limit, […]
• April 6, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for frozen, dinosaur-shaped, ready-to-eat chicken nuggets that may be contaminated with unsafe […]
• January 23, 2026
IKM of San Jose, California is recalling the following cookware items because they may be contaminated with significant levels of lead (Pb) which may leach into food. A-cook Aluminum Kadai […]
• December 22, 2025
The product potentially could result in public health risk. VIEW MORE.
• December 12, 2025
Aluminum saucepans recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with lead (Pb) which may leach into food. VIEW MORE.
• November 24, 2025
This product is being recalled because it contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. VIEW MORE.
• October 14, 2025
This product is being recalled because it contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. VIEW MORE.