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Lorna Benson
ST. PAUL, Minn.

Lead paint dust can cause poisoning in a child

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The number of children in Minnesota with elevated levels of lead in their blood fell by about 200 kids last year.

Still, more than 3,500 children had lead levels high enough in 2012 to warrant follow-up to help families identify possible sources of their lead exposure, the Minnesota Department of Health said.

The vast majority of Minnesota's cases are caused by lead paint in older homes, said epidemiologist Stephanie Yendell. A very small amount of paint dust can cause lead poisoning in a child, she added.

"A teaspoon of dust spread out through an entire house is enough to cause lead poisoning," Yendell said. "So we're not necessarily talking about the child sitting there actually eating paint chips. It can be just a child crawling around on the floor and then putting their hands in their mouth."

Officials act when they find children with lead level above five micrograms per deciliter of blood. The Health Department also examines homes for mold, radon and carbon monoxide whenever it works on a lead poisoning case.