Parents of students at Beaver Dam Elementary School have been notifed of the presence of high levels of lead at the school.
The Environmental Health Division of the Cumberland County Department of Public Safety recommended that children at the school be tested to determine their blood lead level, according to a news release. A recent investigation found lead levels higher than acceptable according to state standards.
Parents of students younger than age 6 who have attended in-person classes at the school in the past six months will receive a hard-copy notice from the health department and school system, the release said.
According to the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the health effects of lead exposure are more harmful to children younger than 6 because their bodies are still developing and growing rapidly. At this time, no student is known to have blood lead levels above the level that triggers follow-up care.
Fewer than 15 students who fall in that age group may have been affected, the news release said.
The health department is providing free blood tests to any Beaver Dam Elementary School student who attended in-person instruction in the past six months. Testing is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Public Health Department, 1235 Ramsey St. Walk-ins are accepted, the release said.
Parents who have questions about the testing can call 910-433-3618 or 910-321-7111, the release said.
