ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) - The Chemung County Health Department has been awarded a grant of $1.6 million to build a Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

The health department says there is a high concentration of children with higher blood lead levels in the county.

According to the department, of these children identified in 2022, 88 percent live in the zip codes of 14901 and 14904 in Elmira. As part of the department's lead prevention strategy, they will resume their free lead testing clinic by appointment.

New York State Public Health Laws and Regulations require health care providers to test all children at age 1 and again at age 2. In addition, the state requires a risk assessment for all children ages 6 months to 6 years at every well child visit.

For more information about the Chemung County Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Program and the lead testing clinic, call 607-873-1308.