National Public Health Week

National Public Health Week is April 7 to 11 and the theme is “Climate Change: Our Health in Balance.” Delta Public Health will be coordinating two screenings related to the environment during this week.

Hair Mercury Bio-Monitoring is offered free to any woman of childbearing age (15-45 years). Mercury occurs naturally in the environment but is also released into the air through industrial pollution and can reach the Arctic through air and water currents. Mercury can be found in fish and passed on to people who eat fish. High levels of mercury can cause human health problems especially in unborn babies and young children.

Blood lead level screening will be offered on a sliding scale fee. Lead exposure can occur by drinking water from pipes in older homes that may contain lead solder. Older homes where lead-based paints have been used and are deteriorating can contribute to lead dust which is then inhaled. You may also be exposed to lead if you fix batteries or radiators, make ceramics or stained glass, work with scrap metal, perform welding with lead, or use an indoor shooting range. Lead dust from these activities can settle on the hair and clothing and can be carried back to cars and homes where other people can be exposed to the lead dust. High lead levels can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and immune system or cause difficulty in learning, hearing loss, and miscarriages.

If you are interested in scheduling one of these screenings, or have any questions, call Delta Public Health at 895-4292. We will be holding a prize-drawing for anybody who has one of these tests done or who picks up a Public Health Information Kit during the week of April 7-11. Hope to see you then! Rachelle Hill, PHN and Janice Templin-Weller, PHN