Health Commissioner Johnson Statement on Lead Case

By City of Milwaukee Health Department - Jun 17th, 2021 09:49 pm

MILWAUKEE – On Tuesday, June 15, the Milwaukee Health Department learned of a family with multiple children with elevated blood lead levels that were not addressed appropriately by the lead risk assessment team. Commissioner Kirsten Johnson and Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Health Tyler Weber immediately asked for additional information and contacted the WI DHS, the Common Council, and Board of Health to inform them of their findings.

Currently, we do not know of other problematic cases, outside of the Bay View case. An internal case review of every elevated blood lead level is planned, in addition to an investigation of staff involved with this family.

Any child poisoned by lead is a tragedy and this situation is unacceptable. The Milwaukee Health Department is committed to making sure mistakes like this are not repeated.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

More about the Lead Crisis

$43 Million Later, MPS Says Classrooms Are Safe From Lead Dust - Corrinne Hess - Dec 18th, 2025
MPS Buildings Cleared of Lead-Paint Risks after 10-Plus Months of Work - Milwaukee Public Schools - Dec 17th, 2025
Wisconsin Moves to Require Lead Service Lines Replaced By 2037 - Danielle Kaeding - Dec 11th, 2025
Gov. Evers, DNR Announce More Than $159 Million to Ensure Clean, Safe Drinking Water for Wisconsinites in 29 Municipalities - Gov. Tony Evers - Dec 10th, 2025
EPA Announces $3 Billion in New Funding for States to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Nov 25th, 2025
Wisconsin Communities Get $282 Million for Drinking Water Projects - Danielle Kaeding - Nov 19th, 2025
MKE County: County Launches Lead Abatement Program - Graham Kilmer - Nov 9th, 2025
Milwaukee County Launches Lead Remediation Program to Reduce Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Homes in Suburban Communities - David Crowley - Nov 5th, 2025
Wisconsin Improves Child Lead Testing Rates, Urges Continued Testing and At-Home Prevention - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Oct 21st, 2025
City Hall: Milwaukee Must Replace 100 Lead Laterals Per Week To Meet 2025 Goal - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 1st, 2025

Mentioned in This Press Release

People: Kirsten Johnson, Tyler Weber

Government: Milwaukee Health Department

Neighborhoods: Bay View

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