Washington DC Landlords Sued Over Lead Paint
Amidst all the press about Mattel's toy recall and lead paint in toys, there is a grim reminder in today's Washington Post about the most common source of lead poisoning: paint in houses. The Washington DC attorney general has finished filing cases against twelve DC landlords whose buildings were found, after testing, to have hazardous levels of lead-based paint and who did not comply with instructions to remove this dangerous material.
Doctors, after running blood test on children under 8 who lived in or frequently visited these buildings, found that the children had elevated levels of lead. In children this young, lead exposure can have permanent consequences for mental development and abilities. Thankfully the DC attorney general recognizes this and is pursuing these cases.
For more information, here is a list on the effects and symptoms of lead poisoning in young children.
