The beautiful old buildings of Lewiston-Auburn remind us of the cities’ wonderful history, but they are also a source of the lead poisoning that threatens the future. In the abatement battle underway, we are fortunate that Healthy Androscoggin, a local organization that promotes good health, is galvanizing coalitions of community leaders to make meaningful progress on this urgent challenge.
In Lewiston-Auburn, most lead exposure occurs through the aging housing stock which were painted before the elimination of lead. When the original lead-based paint deteriorates, poisonous paint chips and dust are produced. Children are especially at risk because they are more readily exposed, absorb lead at a higher rate than adults and suffer terrible and irreversible long-term effects on their developing brains, nervous systems and organs.
The result of lead exposure? A host of physical and mental health problems that not only destroy precious lives, but diverts significant financial resources to long-term health care needs, special education and criminal justice. Our families, schools and community suffer as a result.
Lead poisoning is best discovered by screening every child with a blood test when they are young. Once elevated levels are detected, it is likely that other children in that household or neighborhood are also affected.
It is important to act quickly to educate parents on how to protect their children while also providing homeowners and landlords with financial and other resources to help safely clean up their properties.
Why is lead poisoning still an issue in cities and towns across America?
Many people are still unaware that lead is a health hazard, and there is often a lack of political will to address the problem and a lack of funding available for home renovation and abatement. Landlords may be pitted against tenants in this battle, while do-it-yourselfers may exacerbate problems with sanding and scraping. Contractors may not be certified in abatement or in compliance with proper standards.
Leadership, education, coordination and collaboration is required.
Healthy Androscoggin, drawing on best practices from the U.S. and Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, helped inform state legislators when they crafted a new lead-safety law that went into effect September 2016. This made Maine the first state in the nation to bring lead intervention levels in line with CDC guidelines.
The law requires health care workers to report any child with a lead level greater than five micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, and triggers a specialist to visit the child’s home to look for lead hazards and help families end exposure. Unfortunately, the rate at which children in Lewiston-Auburn are poisoned by lead is three times the state rate.
Through a number of different local coalitions and with the support and backing of Central Maine Healthcare, Healthy Androscoggin is helping to coordinate care providers to spot elevated lead levels, deploy specialists to homes, and leverage resources for abatement. These resources include a $3.4 million Housing and Urban Development grant recently awarded to Lewiston-Auburn to assist home-owners and landlords with replacing exterior siding and windows and covering up old paint to prevent lead dust and chipping.
Healthy Androscoggin is also educating community members, landlords and the general public through events, written materials and in-home visits; providing health assessments and lead dust cleaning kits and demonstrations to families; and collaborating with local stakeholders, including primary care providers and health care organizations — the Lewiston Area Public Health Committee, cities of Lewiston and Auburn, the John T. Gorman Foundation, and Pine Tree Legal Assistance, among many others — to improve and coordinate efforts. Lead poisoning prevention efforts are most successful when local partners work together. Lewiston-Auburn is fortunate to have many dedicated organizations collaborating to solve this pervasive public health issue.
The percentage of lead-poisoned children in Lewiston-Auburn who are three and younger dropped from 9.3 percent to 6.7 percent between 2010 and 2014. We should celebrate that progress even as we acknowledge more progress is needed.
No amount of lead poisoning in children is safe. The cure for this devastating health hazard is prevention, pure and simple. We need to continue to work together to ensure that Lewiston-Auburn becomes a healthy and vital region today and for generations to come.
Dr. Dervilla McCann is chief of population health with Central Maine Healthcare.
What parents can do to protect their children:
• If your home was built before 1978, have it inspected for lead contamination.
• Ask your landlord to fix and repair surfaces with chipping, peeling or flaking paint.
• Wet-mop floors, windowsills and other areas of possible contamination often.
• Before buying or renting a property, check for lead.
• Evacuate your home when remodeling it or eradicating lead.
• See your child’s health care provider regularly, especially for infants and toddlers.
• Test your child as early as age 1 and again at age 2.
• Wash children’s’ hand bottles, pacifiers and toys often.
• Remove shoes when entering the home.
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