Lead can cause serious health problems, especially in young children. In April, the state is offering free soil testing to root out one path to exposure.

Recent data has renewed concern for childhood lead poisoning in the state, with even small amounts of the heavy metal risking damaging health effects, particularly for children 6 and under. Lead exposure can cause “damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, (and) hearing and speech problems,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Residents have a few opportunities to get their soil tested in April:

■April 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Residents can bring their soil samples to Discover Wild New Hampshire Day, hosted at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department at 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, where DES will have a table.

■April 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Soil can be dropped off at the DES table at the Nashua Sustainability Fair at the Nashua Public Library, located at 2 Court St. in Nashua.

■April 21-25, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Residents also have a few days where they can drop off their soil at a collection box, with instruction packets and labels included, in the DES lobby at 29 Hazen Drive in Concord.

But the first step will be for residents to collect soil samples at home. To do this, DES instructed residents to watch an instructional video from the CDC on proper sample collection, and said they should bring their samples in clear, sealable plastic bags.

The CDC recommended digging soil from five or 10 different spots and mixing these together in a container. For gardens, residents are instructed to dig 6 inches deep; for outdoor play areas, 2 inches of depth is suitable. Then, after mixing, add two to three cups of soil into an appropriate bag, such as a quart-sized zip lock bag. It’s also recommended to record how far from the home the samples were collected. 

Participants will be given an identification number they can use to find their results when they are posted anonymously on the department’s webpage. DES will announce on social media when the results are up.