|
A Preventable Problem
One of the biggest environmental health risks to children in
urban neighborhoods is lead poisoning. Lead acts as a neurotoxin
that can cause everything from temporary mood swings to permanent
learning disabilities. Homes built before the 1970s were often
painted with lead-based paints, which were valued for their
high-quality and vibrant colors. Despite a ban on lead paint
that went into effect in 1972, lead dust from paint scrapings
is still commonly found around the bases of older homes, posing
a special risk to children. Thankfully, that risk is 100% avoidable
— if homeowners know how to deal with it.
|
| |
Mapping Out Solutions
The goal of the Lead Safe Yard Project is to provide homeowners
with accurate measures of how much lead exists on their property,
mapping out exactly where it lies and in what concentrations.
By teaming up with local community organizations, residents
can then use this information to actually deal with the problem.
The costs of safely removing and properly disposing of lead-contaminated
soil is often much too high for many homeowners, but innovative
short-term solutions, like planting shrubs in contaminated areas
so that kids can’t play there, are helping to keep children
safe. The Project makes a special point to educate people on
the best ways to consistently upkeep their property, a crucial
step in order for these safety barriers to be successful. |
| |
Dispelling Myths
One of the things that make the Lead Safe Yard Project so successful
is the presence of dedicated community organizers, like Nicole
Flint of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, who go out
and explain the data collected to homeowners. Many people mistakenly
believe that kids need to actually pick up and eat paint chips
in order to get lead poisoning. Organizers like Nicole are able
to counter these myths with accurate information — that
contaminated dirt gets on kids’ hands and toys and food
when they play outside, and can get tracked through homes on
people’s shoes, easily making its way into children’s
mouths from there. These organizers can then sit down with local
residents to figure out how to use the data the EMPACT program
provides them in order to keep themselves and neighborhood children
safe. |
| |
| More information...
EPA’s
Lead Safe Yard Page
Get the scoop on the project’s success in Boston, including
their methodology, sample data, contact info and more.
Lead
Safe Yard Handbook
Find everything you need to know about starting up a Lead
Safe Yard program in your community.
Protecting
Our Children’s Health
Learn about other programs designed to protect children from
lead poisoning, and things you can start doing now to reduce
risks in your own home.
The
Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Learn what every parent should know about lead poisoning and
children.
Lead
Poisoning Q & A
Find new ways to reduce lead exposure risks inside your home.
Coalition
to End Childhood Lead Poisoning
Info for tenants, homeowners, rental agencies, grandparents
and more.
|
 |
The videos on this site are part of an hour long
video produced by the Environmental Fund for Pennsylvania/GreenWorks
for the Environmental Protection Agency's EMPACT Program. To
get a copy of the entire video, contact GreenTreks at talktous@greentreks.org.
Learn more about our Outreach Efforts for this production. Email
us at talktous@greentreks.org. |
|
|
