Overview

• On July 1, the Illinois Department of Public Health added 180 ZIP codes across 47 counties, expanding the high-risk list to about 96 percent of the state.
• Every Chicago ZIP code is now classified as high-risk for pediatric lead poisoning, triggering mandatory testing protocols for young residents.
• Under state law, children in designated areas must receive blood lead tests at 12 and 24 months, and all under-6-year-olds must be screened by healthcare providers.
• Health authorities advise families to reduce exposure through frequent handwashing, indoor shoe removal and avoiding gardening in older soil.
• The department intends to mandate lead testing across all Illinois ZIP codes by next year to strengthen early detection.