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- Preventing Lead Poisoning
Preventing Lead Poisoning
Why it Matters
Homes built before 1978 contain lead paint and when children breathe or ingest lead dust they can become poisoned and get very sick.
Thousands of children in Erie County have already fallen victim to lead poisoning and Western New York is a hotbed of lead paint hazards: one-third of all lead poisoning cases reported in 2006 in New York State outside of New York City were from six zip codes in Buffalo: 14207, 14208, 14211, 14212, 14213 and 14215--making our region one of the most dangerous for young children.
While lead is potentially harmful to individuals at any age, it is especially dangerous to children under the age of six. Lead poisoning causes permanent neurological damage including loss of I.Q., developmental delays, learning disabilities, memory loss, hearing loss, attention deficits, hyperactivity and behavioral disorders. In extreme cases lead exposure can result in organ failure and death.
The good news is that lead poisoning is 100% preventable and there are things you can do to help protect your family and our community: have your child and home tested for lead, feed your children a healthy diet, learn about how to do home repairs and remodeling safely, avoid your family's exposure to lead, and volunteer your time and resources to help us help those most at risk.
By working together we can Wipe Out Lead.
