How to Prevent Lead Poisoning: “An Invisible Threat”

Public Health Out Loud

While anyone can get lead poisoned, lead is most dangerous to children younger than six years old and pregnant people. Even small amounts of lead in the blood during childhood can have life-long consequences. Until the level of its toxicity was fully recognized, lead was used in products like gasoline, pipes, and household paint. Lead-based paint was common until 1978, when the federal government banned it from consumer use. Today, it is still frequently found in homes that were built before then.

In Rhode Island, more than 80% of the housing stock pre-dates 1978. But lead paint can’t be spotted with the naked eye. So, the State and some local municipalities have programs devoted to identifying lead hazards and supporting healthy, lead-safe homes.

Our guest experts this week are Cindy Singleton, the Lead Hazard Mitigation Program manager at the Rhode Island Department of Health; Bianca Policastro, Director of Planning and Development for the City of Woonsocket; and Joseph Ferri, the Lead Hazard Reduction Program manager for the City of Woonsocket.

What resources are available to address household lead hazards in Rhode Island? And how can parents protect their kids from lead poisoning? Download this week’s episode to find out.