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New York City Reports Decline in Childhood Lead Poisoning |
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From EurekAlert! - Breaking News: Although childhood lead poisoning remains a serious problem, the number of new cases identified in 2006 marks the lowest level in more than a decade. The number of new cases identified in 2006 -- 2,310 among children ages 6 months to 6 years -- marks a 13% decline from 2005 and an 88% decline since 1995, when nearly 20,000 children were newly identified with lead poisoning. The number of cases is falling even as health care providers expand testing of one- and two-year-old children, as required by state law. The Health Department actively promotes blood lead testing among healthcare providers, especially in high-risk neighborhoods. "We want to make lead poisoning a thing of the past in New York City," said Nancy Clark, Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Disease Prevention. "Peeling lead paint, particularly on doors and windows, is the primary cause of lead poisoning and young children are the most at risk group for lead poisoning. While only 34% of New York City children (age 6 months to 6 years) live in Brooklyn, 43% of children newly identified with lead poisoning last year lived in Brooklyn. Of the remaining children with lead poisoning, 22% live in Queens, mostly in West Queens, Jamaica and Southwest Queens; 17% in the Bronx, mostly in Fordham-Bronx Park, Crotona-Tremont and High Bridge-Morrisania; 14% in Manhattan, mostly in Washington Heights-Inwood, Central Harlem-Morningside Heights and Union Square-Lower East Side; and 3% in Staten Island, mostly in Stapleton-St. "Prevention of childhood lead poisoning requires the participation of parents, landlords, doctors and other community members," Assistant Commissioner Clark said. Parents should report peeling paint in their homes to their landlords, who are responsible to fix these conditions. Remind your doctor to test your child for lead poisoning at ages 1 and 2.
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