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During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, advocates urge
action to protect children from Lead Poisoning
TOLEDO: Advocates hosted a news conference on Tuesday, October 22,
2019 at 1 p.m. at One Government Center to recognize National
Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and urge the City of Toledo
to pass proactive, preventive legislation to protect Toledo’s
children from the long-term, devastating consequences of lead
poisoning.
Members of the Toledo Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition (TLPPC),
faith-based leaders, representatives from social justice
organizations, and community advocates
were
present to raise awareness of this public health crisis and
social justice issue.
“Lead poisoning is not a political issue, this is a moral issue,
and we will do what is necessary to rectify this issue and save
our children,” stated Bishop Robert A. Culp, Co-Chair of
the Black/Brown Unity Coalition.
Since 2016, when the original lead ordinance was passed, an
additional 1,000 children with elevated blood lead levels have
been identified, which only includes those who have been tested
and diagnosed. Lead-based paint is the most common source of
lead exposure for young children and much of Toledo’s older
housing stock still contains lead-based paint.
In the Toledo area, an estimated 3,500 children are afflicted by
lead poisoning, and approximately 45,000 – 60,000 homes contain
lead paint. Children who are lead poisoned not only experience
an impact on their health and cognitive development, but also
face long-term social, educational, and economic effects that
significantly impair their life outcomes and ability to succeed.
The only way to effectively tackle lead poisoning is to prevent it
from happening in the first place. In order to protect Toledo’s
children from lead poisoning and provide equal access to safe
and healthy housing, the City of Toledo should pass proactive
legislation requiring rental properties to be inspected and
registered as lead-safe.
“We do not have to wait,” said George Thomas, attorney with
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE), who serves as
legal counsel for the TLPPC. “We have carefully reviewed the
current court case. Nothing prevents the City from passing a new
ordinance that simply avoids the legal issues in that case. Lead
poisoning doesn't wait for frivolous lawsuits and neither can
we. It's our understanding that the city's law department has
also concluded that City Council may proceed.”
Delaying action means more children will face the irreversible,
detrimental effects of lead poisoning that could have been
prevented.
Each year, National Lead Poisoning
Prevention Week (NLPPW) is a call to bring together
individuals, organizations, industry, and state, tribal, and
local governments to increase lead poisoning prevention
awareness in an effort to reduce childhood exposure to
lead. This year, NLPPW is October 20-26, 2019.
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