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A Critical Public Health Problem

Lead poisoning is a critical public health problem for Cleveland’s children. Consider

• Cleveland has one of the highest percentage of children with elevated lead levels in the United States.
  • Cleveland has higher lead levels than Flint, Mich., whose own lead problem sparked national coverage and outrage. Flint reported that 7 to 10 percent of their children had elevated lead levels; Cleveland has an average of 12 to 13 percent of children with elevated lead levels, with some neighborhoods seeing rates as high as 25 percent.
• Cleveland has a low screening rate.
  • The latest data shows that only Â鶹ӳ»­ 35 percent of Cleveland’s children are tested for lead levels, and not all of those who test positive are treated.
• Cleveland has an aging housing stock.
  • About 90 percent of Cleveland’s housing supply was built before 1978, when lead paint was banned in consumer applications. These houses may still have leaded paint in the home.
• Research has shown that every $1 spent on screening and treatment will save $7 in public health costs down the line.
  • The Centers for Disease Control has found that, while no level of lead is safe, 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter is associated with lower IQ levels and poorer school performance. CMSD children have been identified with lead levels of up to 70 mcg/dl.

The lead poisoning epidemic is a serious public health issue that has gone unchecked for far too long. With what we now know Â鶹ӳ»­ the effects of lead poisoning, it is imperative that action is taken immediately to ensure that children are no longer being unknowingly poisoned in their own home.