https://www.sustainablejersey.com/actions/#open/action/16

The goal of this action is to prevent lead poisoning through education of the larger community. To achieve this goal, the municipality should form a Lead Education Team to help develop an outreach program utilizing available resources. 

Why is it important? 

Lead poisoning is a serious medical condition that occurs when lead accumulates in the body. Currently, lead poisoning is the nation’s # 1 preventable environmental health problem facing young children http://www.nj.gov/humanservices/opmrdd/health/. Although anyone can develop lead poisoning, children under the age of six years, pregnant women and others who work in lead-related industries are at greatest risk. Children under the age of six (6) are at highest risk from lead poisoning, since these years are crucial for brain and growth development, and lead has detrimental effects on development. The body easily absorbs lead, whether it is inhaled or swallowed. Research has shown that there is no safe level of lead in the blood. Learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders can occur even at low levels of exposure. An elevated blood lead level (EBLL) can result in neurological problems, hearing damage, speech and language problems, and, in severe cases, even seizures, coma and death. Although there are many detrimental effects of lead poisoning, many are asymptomatic. A blood test is the only way to find out if an individual has an elevated blood lead level. Currently, there are no treatments available to reverse the effects of lead poisoning. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/lead/. 

Lead is a highly toxic metal that remains in the environment decades after use. Lead is a naturally occurring metal below the earth’s surface; however, it has been found in paint, plumbing pipes, ceramics, gasoline, batteries and even cosmetics and candies. Until the 1970’s, lead could be found almost anywhere in New Jersey and the United States. Homes were painted with lead-based paint, cars were fueled by leaded gasoline, pipes and solder contained lead, and other household items, such as ink, batteries, and even crayons contained lead.

New Jersey is the most densely populated state and contains some of the oldest homes in the United States. Additionally, New Jersey has an extensive industrial history. The housing stock, industrial sites, water and soil contain substantial amounts of lead, subjecting New Jersey residents to the dangers of lead poisoning.

Today, the primary source of lead poisoning in children is the inhalation of lead dust from deteriorated lead-based paint. Lead-based paint was banned from residential use in New Jersey in 1971, and nationally in 1978. The ban on lead-based paint reduced the risk of exposure for children living in homes constructed after 1978; however, homes built before 1978 are likely to contain leaded paint. Nearly 1 million homes, or 30% of the State’s housing, were built prior to 1950, the time when the use of lead-based paint was most prominent. Over 2.5 million homes, or more than 70% of the State’s housing, were built before 1978, the year the federal ban on the use of residential lead-based paint was enacted. In addition, every county in the State has more than 9,000 housing units built before 1950. Due to the high number of homes built before the ban, lead poisoning prevention is of significant importance to the residents of New Jersey, regardless of whether they live in an urban, suburban, or rural geographic area.

Lead poisoning is entirely preventable, and the best way to reduce a child’s risk is to prevent exposure. There is a need to educate parents, caregivers, and the public about the risks posed by lead found not only in paint, but in soil, water and consumer products as well.

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