Around 150,000 households in Leeds are receiving letters inviting them to participate in a pioneering new study that uses finger-prick blood tests to screen children for lead exposure. This study, called the Elevated Childhood Lead Interagency Prevalence Study (ECLIPS), is led by Professor Jane Entwistle, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Science and Environment at Northumbria University.
ECLIPS brings together experts from environmental science, health, epidemiology, and economics and is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The study pioneers a home-testing approach designed to transform how the UK monitors and addresses lead exposure in children. Participating families will collect finger-prick blood samples from children aged 1 to 6, alongside soil and house dust samples, and completing surveys to identify possible sources of lead exposure.
Professor Entwistle emphasized the ongoing risks despite earlier regulatory successes in reducing lead in petrol, paint, plumbing, and household items. She explained, “Lead contamination persists in soil, water, dust, food, and air. Vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, unborn babies, and young children can suffer detrimental effects even from low-level exposure, including reduced attention span, impaired academic performance, and increased aggressive behavior.”
READ MORE: HMRC Raises Rent a Room Tax-Free Allowance to £7,500
Debapriya Mondal, Principal Epidemiologist at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), highlighted that there is no safe level of lead exposure. She noted, “Today, lead poisoning detection often depends on blood tests ordered when symptoms appear, meaning many cases go unnoticed. This study will help determine if widespread home screening could accurately identify lead exposure levels across the UK.”
Dr. Carys Lippiatt, Consultant Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, explained the benefits of the home testing method: “Currently, children must visit clinics for venous blood tests, which can be stressful and time-consuming. This finger-prick method, similar to diabetes monitoring, allows blood spots to be collected easily at home in a relaxed setting without professional assistance.”
The study aims to recruit an initial cohort of 500 participants with young children, laying the groundwork for broader national screening efforts. By leveraging accessible home testing, ECLIPS seeks to better understand and ultimately prevent childhood lead exposure across the UK.