Macon County Health Department (Decatur, IL)

🔍Fact or Fiction❌ Friday
Claim: “Low levels of lead exposure are harmless.”
This claim is fiction.
Dr. Ruediger Krech, Director for Environment, Climate Change, Migration and One Health (a.i.) at the World Health Organization states, “No level of lead is safe.”
Lead exposure continues to be a serious threat to global health. It’s associated to about 1.5 million deaths every year, mostly from cardiovascular disease, and causes permanent neurological and behavioral damage, particularly in children.
Young children absorb considerably more lead than adults, which can lead to lowered IQ, learning complications, and behavioral issues. Lead exposure is also harmful to a developing fetus.
Source: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-10-2025-no-safe-level--act-now-to-end-lead-exposure

🦟 Stop Mosquitoes from Breeding! 🦟

Did you know that mosquitoes can breed in as little as one teaspoon or a bottle cap of standing water? Any water left sitting for more than a week can become a breeding spot.

At least once a week, remember to empty, turn over, or cover anything that can hold water, including:

✅ Tires
✅ Buckets
✅ Toys
✅ Birdbaths
✅ Trash containers
✅ Coolers
✅ Pet dishes

Take a few minutes each week to dump the water and stop mosquitoes before they multiply! 🦟

Rethink Your Drink
Drink (12 oz. serving) / Teaspoons of Sugar
Plain Water / 0
Unsweetened Tea / 0
Lemonade, powder, prepared with water / 3
Sports Drinks / 5
Brewed Sweet Tea / 7
Energy Drink / 9
Regular Soda / 10
Fruit Juice Drink / 10
Regular Orange Soda / 13

Sugary drinks - including sodas, fruit juice drinks, energy or sports drinks, sweet teas, lemonades, and flavored coffees - are the top source of added sugars in the American diet. Whether you're adding sugar or flavored creamers at home or at the coffee shop, it all counts toward your sugar intake.
These drinks increase risks for weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cavities, and gout.
Instead, choose water or nutrient-rich options like plain, unsweetened milk. Enhance plain water with fruit or cucumber slices, or mix 100% juice into sparkling water if you can't go without a carbonated drink.
Finally, skip flavored syrups and whipped cream in your morning coffee.
Learn how to rethink your drink at https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-weight-growth/rethink-your-drink/index.html.