The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Wednesday an expanded list of high-risk for lead exposure ZIP codes.
IDPH is recommending increased mandatory testing for lead exposure of children who live within those areas.
One hundred and forty-eight new zip codes, representing parts of 60 Illinois counties, have been added to the list this year, bringing the total of high-risk ZIP codes to almost 1,200.
The new expanded list can be found at: Pediatric Lead Poisoning High-Risk ZIP Code Areas (illinois.gov).
Under Illinois law, any child residing in a high-risk ZIP code is to be tested automatically at 12, 24, and 36 months. All children six years of age and younger are required to be assessed for lead exposure through the use of a questionnaire administered by a pediatrician. In addition, children who fall into other risk categories spelled out in the questionnaire are also tested, IDPH said in a news release.
High-risk ZIP codes are determined through an algorithm that assesses a number of different risk factors. The department has been expanding that list of ZIP codes gradually and expects to implement universal testing for lead exposure across all Illinois ZIP codes by 2026. T
The newly-added ZIP codes come from the following Illinois counties:
Adams
Alexander
Bond
Boone
Calhoun
Carroll
Champaign
Clinton
Coles
Cook
Crawford
Cumberland
Dekalb
Douglas
DuPage
Edwards
Effingham
Franklin
Gallatin
Hardin
Henry
Jackson
Jefferson
Jo Daviess
Johnson
Kane
La Salle
Lake
Lee
Macon
Macoupin
Madison
Marion
Marshall
Massac
McLean
Monroe
Montgomery
Morgan
Ogle
Peoria
Piatt
Pope
Pulaski
Putnam
Randolph
Richland
Rock Island
St. Clair
Saline
Sangamon
Shelby
Tazewell
Union
Vermilion
Washington
White
Whiteside
Will
Winnebago