Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: Lead poisoning

  • Hamilton County Public Health Awarded HUD Grant to protect children and families from lead-based paint

    Hamilton County Public Health Awarded HUD Grant to protect children and families from lead-based paint

    Hamilton County, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $2 million to Hamilton County Public Health (HCPH) to protect children and families from lead-based paint and home health hazards.  HCPH was one of 44 state and local government agencies in 23 states to receive funding and one of only 15 first-time grantees.  Hamilton County, through its Community Development Block Grant funds, is adding another $300,000 in matching funds for the program.

    In announcing the award, HUD stated that it is providing these grants through its Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction (LBPHR) Grant Program to identify and clean up dangerous lead in low-income families’ homes. These grant includes funds from HUD’s Healthy Homes Supplemental funding to help communities with housing-related health and safety hazards in addition to lead-based paint hazards.

    “Hamilton County has a considerable number of properties in need of remediation,” according to Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman.  “The age of housing, coupled with a lack of maintenance, contribute to the danger of childhood lead poisoning due to unmitigated lead-based paint hazards.”

    HCPH addresses lead poisoning through its Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP). The CLPPP includes outreach, education, and case management for children under six years of age that have been lead poisoned. Without financial support, properties with outstanding lead hazard control orders stand vacant for years, contributing to further disrepair and blight in the community. The funding will allow HCPH to perform lead-based paint remediation and abatement in 97 units in HCPH’s jurisdiction over the 42-month grant period.

    Lead Poisoning Prevention

    Lead poisoning is invisible and 100 percent preventable. Over 80 percent of all homes built before 1978 in the U.S. contain lead-based paint. The primary source of lead exposure is through leaded dust generated from

    deteriorating lead-based paint. Chipping, flaking, peeling paint or lead-based paint can generate invisible leaded dust that can cause serious permanent damage to children, pregnant women and adults. People can become lead poisoned by breathing or swallowing lead dust.

    Waste Management conducts investigations of reports of lead poisoning in children under 6 years of age. Certified Lead Risk Assessors inspect homes for potential lead risks from exposure to lead-based paint, dust, soil, or water.

  • Lead and arsenic contamination found at Taylor Creek Youth Organization fields

    Lead and arsenic contamination found at Taylor Creek Youth Organization fields

    Hamilton County Public Health (HCPH), working in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have discovered lead and arsenic contamination in fields at Taylor Creek Youth Organization.

    Taylor Creek Youth Organization (TCYO) is a non-profit sports organization located in Hamilton County’s Whitewater Township.  The organization’s sports complex, located at 8015 Furlong Road., provides baseball, softball and soccer fields. In addition, the complex hosts a weekly “turkey shoot” during the winter months.

    A citizen complaint was sent to the Ohio EPA with concern that lead from the turkey shoots could potentially contaminate playing fields. Children and other individuals using the playing fields might potentially be exposed to unsafe levels of lead.

    The Ohio EPA referred the case to Hamilton County Public Health. HCPH staff conducted a visual inspection of the field in closest proximity to the field used for the turkey shoots.  Visual inspection indicated debris from shotgun shells littering the field, as well as particles of a gray metallic substance. Inspectors suspected the substance was lead.

    A licensed lead risk assessor employed by HCPH took soil samples from the field. In addition, a water sample was collected from a hose fixture on the west side of the facility’s concession stand. Test results for soil were returned confirming soil contamination with lead and arsenic. Water sample results showed no contamination.

    Lead poisoning is caused by swallowing or breathing lead. Unborn babies and children under six years old are most at risk. Lead poisoning hurts the brain and nervous system and can cause learning and behavior problems.Some of the effects of lead poisoning may never go away. Lead in a child’s body can: slow down growth and development; damage hearing and speech; and make it hard to pay attention and learn.

    Arsenic occurs naturally in soil and minerals and may enter the air, water and land from wind-blown dust and may get into water from runoff and leaching. Breathing high levels of inorganic arsenic can give you a sore throat or irritated lungs.

    Swallowing arsenic can cause nausea and vomiting, decreased production of red and white blood cells, abnormal heart beat, damage to blood vessels, and a sensation of “pins and needles” in hands and feet.

    “While we feel that the potential risks to children who have played on these fields are small, we would advise anyone concerned to consult with their physician,” says Hamilton County Health Commissioner Tim Ingram. “Tests for both lead and arsenic exposure are readily available and easy to administer.

    “The staff at Taylor Creek Youth Organization has been extremely cooperative,” Ingram adds. “They obviously have great concern for the children and others who use the facility and we appreciate the cooperation.”

    Further soil sampling will be conducted to better understand the extent of the contamination. For more information on lead exposure, visit Hamilton County Public Health website at hcph.org and search “lead.”

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