Health officials educate residents about lead exposure and prevention
There has been a 93% decline in childhood lead exposure since 2005, according to the city.
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There are laws to protect people from lead exposure but there are ways residents can help themselves as well.
There has been a 93% decline in childhood lead exposure since 2005, according to the city.
However, issues like lead-based paint and lead-glazed ceramics for food put people at risk of lead exposure.
That's why city officials toured all boroughs this week educating people on what they can do for themselves.
If you see chipping paint and have a child living there who is under 6 years old, you can call 311 and the city will take it from there.
"We'll send an inspector. The inspector will test on the spot. If we find lead-based paint, we'll notify the landlord, advise them about all the steps they need to do to safely remediate the problem but if they don't, we have staff who will come out, contact you, and actually hire contractors to do that remediation," said AnnMarie Santiago, deputy commissioner for Enforcement and Neighborhood Services with Housing Preservation and Development.
Lead testing is required when a child is 1 and 2 years old. If elevated blood levels are found, the city's Department of Health will know and help connect families with resources.
The Lead Poisoning Tour was in conjunction with HPD, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Buildings and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
