Has Your Child Had a Lead Test Yet? Has Your Child Had a Lead Test Yet?

Contributor(s): United States Department of Health and Human Services The History of Medicine Division. Prints and Photographs Collection Publication: United States Department of Health and Human Services, [ca. 1970] Language(s): English Format: Still image Subject(s): Lead Poisoning Public Health Genre(s): Archival Materials Posters Slides (photographs) Abstract: In 1970, the Surgeon General officially recognized lead poisoning as a potential health problem for the first time. The Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention Act of 1971 prohibited the use of lead-based paint in federal buildings and housing units and in the manufacturing of cooking utensils, toys, and furniture. Lead paint disproportionately affected urban children who frequently lived amidst rundown conditions with chipped and peeling paint. This poster from the Department of Health and Human Services adopts the authoritative image of the medical doctor as an advocate of lead tests for children. The text warns parents that children might by poisoning themselves by eating paint chips and offers free lead tests for children. In the late 1970s, an estimated 15 million children had unsafe lead levels. By 1991 that number had been reduced to 1.7 million.. NOTE: Slide of original poster image is slightly blurry. Copyright: The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information) Extent: 1 pages NLM Unique ID: 101584655X37 (See in Profiles in Science) Profiles in Science ID: VCBBCV Permanent Link: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101584655X37 Archival Collection: Visual Culture and Health Posters (Profiles in Science)