New Education Campaign Launched to Prevent Lead Poisoning Among Children

The Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning is launching a new education campaign in Rochester to reiterate the need for inspecting older homes and testing children for exposure to the toxic substance. According to a news report in the Democrat and Chronicle, the coalition has received $65,000 from the city of Rochester, which is part of an earlier $3-million grant given by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.
The coalition seeks to increase public awareness about lead poisoning by creating DVDs, brochures, posters and other promotional materials that talk about the dangers of lead and the need for testing. These materials will be made available in pediatricians’ offices, schools and community groups.
Affected New York Children
Health officials are concerned that while a trend does indicate an overall decrease in the number of lead poisoning cases, the problem has not been eradicated. The article states that in Monroe County, New York, the number of children who are 6 years old or younger with a blood lead level of 10 micrograms per deciliter has decreased in just about a year. According to the Monroe County Department of Public Health, there were 222 children ages 6 or younger with blood lead levels of 10 micrograms per deciliter in 2011. That was a decrease from 290 cases in 2010. In 2002, there were 1,234 children at the 10-microgram threshold.
Dangers of Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning can have serious consequences on children including brain damage, learning disabilities, behavioral issues and poor neuromuscular development. Even a little exposure is sufficient to cause these types of problems. One of the major sources of exposure for children is lead-based paint, which was used in many buildings prior to 1978. Lead-contaminated dust can also be dangerous.
Liability Issues
Depending on how the toxic exposure occurred, individuals, property owners or corporations could be held liable in cases involving lead poisoning. Affected children and their families may be able to claim compensation from the at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, diagnostic tests, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
The experienced New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm understand what families with affected children go through in such incidents. Our firm recovered $1,162,500 for a child who was affected by lead poisoning, which was $162,500 above the one million dollar insurance coverage. If your child is suffering from the adverse effects of lead poisoning, 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.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: The Democrat and Chronicle