Oct. 19 starts National Lead Prevention Week, and here in Central New York, local health officials and community leaders are reminding residents of the dangers of lead exposure.
Locally in Syracuse, the city’s older housing stock has continued to pose risks for families, particularly those with young children. Most homes in the city were built before the federal ban on lead paint in 1978.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology said lead exposure in children can cause permanent brain damage and reduce IQ permanently, something local advocates also noticed.
“You really can't get that back and cause a lot of problems that when you become older, manifest themselves,” said Frank Ridzi, Vice President for Community Investment at the Central New York Community Foundation. “Maybe acting out in school, more likely to be arrested, be an unplanned adolescent pregnancy.”
The foundation is part of the LeadSafe CNY Coalition, which works with city and county governments to help families identify and test high-risk homes. Ridzi said it takes time, coordination and resources.
“Because you only have so many resources and you're trying to make properties, make water lines, make homes safe before the pipes erode and they become dangerous, before the lead paint becomes exposed,” Ridizi said.
Local leaders said staying vigilant is key because even as homes are repaired, aging paint and pipes can make lead a recurring threat.
For more information on Lead Prevention Week in Syracuse and Onondaga County, visit the LeadSafe CNY Facebook.