"This is a very important step toward providing the necessary blood-lead testing and follow-up for all children in Iowa to help protect them from the dangers of lead poisoning," says Don Simmons, UHL environmental program manager.

Lead poisoning can cause damage to the brain and nervous system. UHL performs blood-lead level tests from the Iowa Laboratory Facility in Ankeny. The new law is not expected to have an immediate impact on the number of tests UHL performs on behalf of Iowa's children. Rules for the law must be written before it is fully implemented.

"Of the Iowa children who are tested, 7 percent are lead-poisoned," according to Rita Gergely, bureau chief of IDPH's Lead Poisoning Prevention. "This is more than four times the national average of 1.6 percent."

The Iowa Department of Public Health maintains an extensive library of information about lead poisoning. The IDPH Bureau of Lead Poisoning Prevention can be reached at 800-972-2026 or by going to the IDPH site at www.idph.state.ia.us , and typing "lead" into the search box.