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Lead
poisoning is 100% preventable.
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According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood
lead poisoning is one of the most common pediatric health
problems in the United States today. Enough is now know
about the sources and pathways of lead exposure and about
ways of preventing this exposure to begin the efforts to eradicate
permanently this disease. The persistence of lead poisoning
in the United States, in light of all that is known, presents
a singular and direct challenge to public health authorities,
clinicians, regulatory agencies and society.
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Lead
poisoning causes permanent and irreversible brain damage.
Research shows that lead poisoning causes autism, schizophrenia
and other mental disorders. Only early detection and treatment
can prevent a lifetime of mental and physical disabilities for
these children. |
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Lead
poisoning robs otherwise bright kids of the opportunity for
success in school. Nearly a quarter of a million children
enter kindergarten each year predestined to school careers that
will be plagued with failure, disruptive behavior, and most
likely special education classes because of exposure to lead. |
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Lead
poisoning forces every taxpayer to be a party to its damage.
Investments in lead prevention and screening save taxpayers
the costs of publicly subsidized special education, increased
healthcare needs, and programs for behavioral problems. |
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Lead
silently pollutes the brain, slowing its development and diminishing
its capacity to control behavior. As a result, scientists
report that communities with high numbers of children suffering
from lead poisoning also have higher rates of violent crime
and educational failures. The nation's law enforcement officers
and prosecutors agree with this assessment. Their program, Fight
Crime: Invest in Kids, reports that kids ready for success
in school are less likely to be involved in juvenile crime.
Not surprisingly, social and behavioral scientists project that
a third of the country's prison population most likely are victims
of lead poisoning. |
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The
cost to treat lead poisoning is huge. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) establishes six “risk levels,”
for the severity of lead poisoning. The EPA has associated a
cost of care and follow-up over five years for each child affected
and these costs range from $522 to $5,200, from the least to
the most aggressive care required (1987 dollars). Apply those
costs to the 1 million children in the country today with lead
levels serious enough to cause irreversible damage to their
health and the costs for treatment range from $522 million to
$5.2 billion. |
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There
is a loss of future earning potential because of diminished
IQ. One reputable study estimates a loss of $48.7 billion
(2002 dollars) of future earning potential. |
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Lead
poisoning is totally beatable! Investments in lead hazard
reduction and prevention can eradicate this disease and ensure
that no other children, families or taxpayers suffer unnecessarily. |
