Lead Poisoning Disproportionate Among Blacks and Latinos by Kevin R. Scott
Thu, May 29, 2008  In 2007 over 400 cases of lead poisoning were reported in Monroe County. Despite Rochester’s two year old lead abatement law more than 90% of the reported cases were from within the city limits. Although the number of incidences has decreased by 65% since 2002, lead poisoning is still at epidemic proportions.
Health risks attached to exposure to lead include elevated blood levels of a known neurotoxin, causing permanent brain damage, learning delays, aggressive behavior and even violence.
Disparities exist statewide, affecting primarily urban areas and minority populations, particularly those in the black community. Out of 1,621 zip codes in the state, 36 zip codes accounted for 41 percent of new lead poisoning outside of New York City. Those high-risk areas were in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.
Is race a factor? According to a study conducted by the Empire Justice Center, “Lead poisoning may be color blind, but it is by no means an “equal opportunity” menace. Although lead-based paint can poison any child, regardless of race or ethnicity, the shameful truth is that in New York State lead-paint hazards pose a far greater threat to Black and Latino children than to their White, non-Latino counterparts.”
Outside of New York City, a Black child under age five in our state is 8.5 times more likely to live in a neighborhood linked to high incidences of lead poisoning than is a White, non-Latino child.
Unfortunately the overall (i.e. statewide) drop in the incidence rate for lead poisoning has not been reflected in the high risk areas now populated by minority children.
A state bill sponsored by Joe Robach in the Senate and David Gantt in the Assembly would identify the top 30 high-risk areas in the state, require prevention plans for those communities, increase the amount of information available to the public and offer tax credits for homeowners for lead hazard reduction. While the bill has passed the Assembly, it remains stuck in committee in the Senate.
“We need Joe Robach to aggressively push this bill. It for the protection of our children and those most vulnerable in our community,” Gantt said.
It's reported that during the first half of the 20th century, houses were often painted with pure lead mixed with linseed oil, resulting in the high concentration of poisoning in older city neighborhoods. Young lives are literally on the line and the problem won't go away without strong leadership from state leaders.
What can the community do to protect its children? Aside from comprehensive inspection of older deteriorating structures and health professionals ensuring that all children between the ages of 12-24 months be tested for lead, urgency in passing legislation to protect residents in higher risk communities must become a priority.
The Childhood Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention and Safe Housing Act is a bill that has been passed in the State Assembly but remains unapproved by the State Senate. The legislation would establish a series of lead paint poisoning prevention measures, including an annual, maximum tax credit worth $1,500 per property owner and $5,000 per taxpayer for lead reduction remedial efforts, a screening process for children and pregnant women who are at the most risk, and the creation of guidelines by the Health Department to effectively inspect for lead poisoning conditions.
As previously reported by the Minority Reporter, the Greater Rochester Health Foundation announced its awards of more than $2 million over three years to three agencies to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Rochester by 2010. The Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning will receive $100,000 to fund broad communications initiatives throughout the community to increase the knowledge of parents, expectant parents, and property owners in high-risk neighborhoods, as well as the community-at-large, about the risks of lead poisoning to young children and how to protect their families.
The City of Rochester Bureau of Housing & Project Development has been awarded $1.5 million to fund the Lead Safe Homes Program. This program will provide grants to property owners within a targeted area of zip code 14621 to undertake repairs needed to reduce lead paint threats in their homes. Action for a Better Community, Inc. has been awarded $380,000 over three years for a Lead Resource Center that will include hands-on support to guide families on how to asses the lead risk in their home and actively help property owners apply for available funding to remediate lead risks.
“We feel very confident that these three programs will have the impact necessary to help reduce the threat of lead poisoning to our community’s children,” says GRHF President and CEO, John Urban.
Moreover, lead poisoning is a preventable plague. Locally we are making strides by working to strengthen local, state and federal laws that address lead hazards, but much too slowly and without a substantive outcry from the community. Most of the children affected live in neighborhoods far from those where most legislators dwell.
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