ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - An increase in the number of children testing positive for lead poisoning has Allen County Public Health concerned.
Health Commissioner Brandon Fischer recently testified in front of the Ohio Senate Select Committee on Housing when they were in Lima last month. He focused on the number of children that had been treated for lead poisoning. In 2023, they had 25 kids under the age of 6 years old who were reported to have tested positive, which is more than triple the number in 2022 or 2021. The cause is thought to be the aging housing stock in the region with lead paint remaining in these homes which is deteriorating and being ingested by children through the dust.
"Lead-based paint was outlawed by the EPA in 1978 but it's still a concern in homes that were built long before then. If your home was built before 1940 you have a 90% chance of having lead-based paint in your home. So, we want to make sure that parents are aware but we also want to make sure that the state is providing resources to have contractors be around to help with remediation of lead in homes in the community," explained Brandon Fischer, Allen County Health Commissioner.
The West Ohio Community Action Partnership has programs to address the growing concern of lead paint remaining in homes around the area. You can find out more about those online at https://wocap.org/housing-services/lead-safe-program/. To learn about the health effects of lead poisoning, visit https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/prevention/health-effects.htm.
