Lead Poisoning

How can high rates of childhood lead poisoning be reduced?

What is the Problem?

In 1998, one out of nine Rhode Island children tested had an elevated blood lead level (BLL).

Lead Poisoning is a serious disease, usually caused by exposure to lead in old paint. Even a little lead is poison to a toddler or preschool child.

One in three Providence children under the age of six have elevated blood lead levels. The rates of lead poisoning in Providence are higher than in most other US cities. The problem is common in Rhode Island due to the fact that much of the housing stock was built before the use of lead paint was made illegal in 1978.

How lead affects Health

Damage to child’s developing brain and nervous system

Behavior, learning and coordination problems (such as hyperactivity)

Slowed growth

Hearing problems

Headaches

Who is most likely to get lead Poisoned

Lead poisoning is most dangerous for children under six years of age, because:

They put their hands, toys, paint chips and lead dust in their mouths.

They play on the floor and come into contact with windowsill wells which collect lead contaminated paint dust and they play outside where soil may have lead in it.

Young children absorb toxins more easily than adults and their brains are still growing so lead poisoning affects them more severely.
Adults who work in jobs, have hobbies or do household renovations around lead expose themselves as well as their children.

Multiple Poisonings in Houses:

The number of poisoning events that have occurred at these addresses is another way of determining the severity of the lead poisoning problem in the city’s residential addresses. Each poisoning event represents that a poisoned child resided at an address, but not necessarily that the child was poisoned as a result of exposure to lead at that location.

Providence Addresses Where Multiple Children Have Resided With Elevated Blood Lead Levels

What has been done?

All children under six years of age are required to be screened for lead poisoning. A lead screening is a simple blood test that can be done in a doctor’s office. It is important to have young children tested for lead poisoning for there are usually no symptoms and by the time signs appear, the child often has suffered some impairment.

Funding loans are also available to Providence residents performing lead hazard reduction from Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (RIHMFC).

The Rhode Island Department of Health certifies inspectors to test homes for lead hazards in paint, soil, dust, and water.

RI’s DOH has implemented an aggressive screening program to test children’s blood for lead for free.

In January 1998, the Mayor of Providence established the Safe Housing Lead Task Force which focused efforts on education, fundraising and housing.

Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development grant to the City of Providence to address lead-poisoning risks in Providence as well as other environmental health hazards such as asthma triggers.
EPA - New England's Urban Environmental Initiative has supported multi-lingual community education and outreach about lead poisoning in Providence since 1996.

Housing Quality

Lead poisoning is two times more likely to occur in a house with code violations than in an house without. Lead poisoning will not be eliminated on a larger scale until housing conditions in general are improved. The City and the State should move toward looking for risks in homes related to several diseases.

Possible Action Priorities

Children are being poisoned in a rather small percentage of the residential properties around the City. Lead poisoned children in Providence have been found to reside in only 3% of the residential properties in the City over a six year period. Therefore, targeting the small number of properties found to be problematic may have wide-ranging preventative effects:
An important option for reducing rates of lead poisoning is targeting addresses with a history of multiple poisoning. In 1998, 30% of the addresses where a child with a 15+ EBL resided were addresses with a history of multiple lead poisoning in 1993-1997. If these 930 addresses had been remediated, then potentially one-third, of the risk for lead poisoned children in these residential properties could have been eliminated.

Future Strategies

Identify which houses are most problematic before they make kids sick and prioritize resources to make these houses safe.

Priorities must be set to establish plans for risk reduction. Once identified, these houses in low-income neighborhoods in Providence should be of highest priority for remediation.

Financial Assistance for Lead Hazard Reduction

City of Providence Lead Program: Debra Pond, 351-4300

Rhode Island Housing Lead Program, 457-1155

Resources & Contacts

The National Lead Information Center 1-800-LEAD-FYI

RI Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program 1-800-942-7434

Office of Environmental Health Risk Assessment, RIDH 222-1417 (inspection and regulations)

Department of Environmental Management 222-2808 (exterior lead-based paint removal)

Childhood Lead Action Project 785-1310 (For education, advocacy, and parent support)

HELP Lead Safe Center 274-7779 (multi-service center)
EPA, Region 1, Katie Mazer, Lead Outreach Coordinator, (617)918-1523