SALEM, Mo. — Dent County Health Center participated in a radio interview with KSMO on Friday, May 15, 2026, to share important public health information about lead awareness, safe gardening practices, and the importance of handwashing.
Emily Marshall, Dent County Health Center’s Grants and Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, discussed Dent County’s long history with lead and mining, as well as practical steps residents can take to reduce potential lead exposure in everyday life. Dent County is located near two of the largest lead mining districts in the world, the Old Lead Belt and the Viburnum Trend. Mining has been part of Missouri’s history for more than 300 years and remains an important part of the region’s economy and identity.
Because of this history, lead may still be found in the environment, including in soil, dust, older homes, and certain work settings. Lead dust can be very fine and may not be visible. It can travel on clothing, shoes, skin, and hair, and it may also settle into soil or be carried into the home without being noticed.
During the interview, Marshall also shared that older homes, especially those built before 1978, may have a higher risk of lead-based paint. When old paint chips, flakes, or turns into dust, it can become a health concern, especially for young children. Lead from paint, mining, and industrial activities does not break down in soil over time and can remain in the environment for decades.
Marshall reviewed possible signs of lead exposure in both children and adults. In children, early warning signs may include irritability, hyperactivity, mood changes, difficulty learning, a short attention span, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, tiredness, stomach pain, nausea, or slower growth than expected. In adults, possible signs may include headaches, trouble concentrating, high blood pressure, joint or muscle pain, mood changes, stomach pain, nausea, constipation, or memory problems.
Dent County Health Center also encouraged safe gardening practices, especially for residents who may be unsure about soil conditions. These steps include washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating, peeling root vegetables such as carrots or potatoes when possible, using raised garden beds with clean soil, and reducing the amount of soil tracked into the home by leaving shoes at the door.
The interview also highlighted how nutrition can help reduce the amount of lead the body absorbs. Foods rich in calcium, such as milk, yogurt, cheese, and leafy greens, can help limit how much lead is absorbed into bones. Iron-rich foods, including lean meats, beans, spinach, and fortified cereals, are also important because low iron levels may increase lead absorption. Foods high in vitamin C, such as oranges, tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries, help the body absorb iron more effectively.
As part of this continued education, Dent County Health Center will provide handwashing education at the Community Garden on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The session will focus on the importance of washing hands and fresh produce, especially after gardening or working in soil.
Dent County Health Center offers lead testing to check blood lead levels. Community members who have concerns about possible exposure are encouraged to contact Dent County Health Center for more information.
To schedule an appointment for testing call Dent County Health Center at 573-729-3106.
