LEAD POISONING TARGETED; VENTURA COUNTY UPS SCREENING, EDUCATION EFFORTS.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

With hundreds of Ventura County children at risk from lead poisoning, the county is hiring more people to educate parents and child advocates on how to prevent and treat the illness.

Using a $200,000 state grant, the county plans to hire three full-time staffers who will offer free blood-screening clinics and home environmental tests for at-risk children ages 1 to 5.

``It's important to educate our population regarding lead poisoning and the need for lead testing in children,'' said Lois Manning, the county public health office's nursing director. ``If we identify children at risk with high blood lead levels, we can manage that and prevent any future problems.''

Between January 1992 and January 1998, 284 cases of blood lead levels above the ``concern level'' of the federal Centers for Disease Control were reported in Ventura County children, records show.

Another 77 cases of actual poisoning, which can cause adverse physical and mental effects, were reported, county officials said.

But health officials believe that the actual number of infants with dangerously high levels of lead in their blood is significantly higher because many parents are not getting their children tested.

Officials also estimate that 3,700 of the county's 61,200 infants have elevated blood levels.

Yet, only 2,422 children were screened for lead exposure during 1997, records show, Manning said.

``We want to test every young child to make sure they are not at risk for lead poison,'' she said. ``We wish to prevent mental retardation due to lead poisoning. It's preventable. Our goal is to eradicate the problem totally.''

High levels of lead exposure come most often from lead-painted walls and can cause seizures, unconsciousness and, in some cases, death.

Even low levels can cause behavioral as well as muscle and bone-growth problems, kidney and nervous system damage, learning disabilities and hearing damage.

The county has an estimated 174,000 housing units that were built before 1980, when federal laws banned the use of lead in paint.

Manning said the staff will encourage landlords and tenants to cover lead paint with a nonlead coat.

``We don't have the money to do that,'' she said.

The public health office has three full-time staff members working with at-risk youths, but they previously had no money for free screenings, Manning said.

Children with lead poisoning would be given blood chelation - a filtering process - in a hospital and be placed on a nutrition program, Manning said.

County Environmental Health Division staff would also conduct an environmental assessment of the children's homes to see if they contain lead paint.

``The point here is to make sure people are aware of the danger (in order) to protect their children.''