Did Lead Exposure Cause Schizophrenia Among New York City’s Residents?

A new study from Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health has found that lead poisoning, along with other environmental toxins, could be a major contributor to schizophrenia in large cities such as New York City. According to a report in The Village Voice, the study shows for the first time that lead, along with other environmental toxins, could be a significant factor in many cases of schizophrenia.
This is noteworthy information considering New York City has historically struggled with childhood lead poisoning. While lead poisoning numbers in New York City have decreased sharply over the past decade, 2005 data from the city’s Department of Mental Health and Hygiene show that lead poisoning has been concentrated primarily in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens, particularly in neighborhoods such as East Flatbush, West Queens and Bed-Stuy that have old homes with lead-based paint.
CDC’s Lead Threshold
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reduced its lead poisoning threshold last year from 10 micrograms to 5 micrograms per deciliter. The rationale behind this change was to identify children with elevated blood levels to give them the right type of treatments. This change put more than half a million children in the United States within the “high lead exposure” bracket. Lead poisoning can cause significant health problems for children including, but not limited to, brain and internal organ damage, learning disabilities and behavioral issues.
Compensation for Lead Poisoning Victims
If your child has been affected by lead poisoning, the experienced New York personal injury lawyers with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our firm recovered $1,162,500 for a child who suffered lead poisoning from paint in her apartment. The child’s injuries were subtle and difficult to recognize. We recovered $162,500 above the $1 million dollar total policy in this case. Despite the judge’s efforts to settle the case for $950,000, we fought hard and recovered $162,500 more than the insurance full policy of one million dollars.
Please contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496) for a free and comprehensive consultation. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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Source: The Village Voice