Officials: 19 students at Wilson County elementary school possibly exposed to lead
The Wilson County Health Department advised some parents at a Black Creek elementary school to have their children tested for lead exposure.
A Wilson County Schools spokeswoman said the letters were sent to parents of 19 students younger than 6 at Lee Woodard Elementary School.
Angela Manning, Wilson County's environmental health supervisor, said in a statement that flaking paint was noticed in areas of the school that were constructed before 1978, when lead paint was often used.
The school's cafeteria and gym were built in the 1950s, and tests found that windows and exterior areas had lead paint or other lead components.
Ingesting lead-contaminated dust is the most common way lead enters the blood of children younger than 6, the health department's letter states.
Per state law, parents of students younger than 6 were notified, Manning said.
The department recommended parents who received the letter have their children’s blood tested for lead exposure at their doctor's office or at the health department.
