Lead Exposure: How MN 5th District Compares To Rest Of State, Nation

MINNEAPOLIS — If you live in a house built before 1978, it's possible there is lead-based paint in some of your living spaces. Chipping, flaking, or dusty lead-based paint surfaces are the most common source of lead exposure in Minnesota.

Lead exposure can cause serious neurological and other health issues, especially in young children whose brains are still developing.

In 2020, 32.8 percent of the housing stock in Minnesota's Fifth District had an elevated lead risk, according to the Congressional District Health Dashboard.

The Fifth District's average is significantly higher than both the national average of 17.2 and the statewide average of 19.2.

Here's how each district in Minnesota stacks up:

• MN 1: 23.5 percent
• MN 2: 9.5 percent
• MN 3: 11.1 percent
• MN 4: 24.5 percent
• MN 5: 32.8 percent
• MN 6: 9.1 percent
• MN 7: 23 percent
• MN 8: 19.9 percent

However, homeowners should take steps to protect themselves, including testing, removing, or encapsulating lead paint areas.

Learn more about how to reduce lead exposure on the Minnesota Department of Health website.