Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis recently introduced a motion to ensure that as many homes as possible receive remediation services from the Countywide Lead-Based Paint Hazard Remediation Program. Her motion passed unanimously.
“One of my top priorities in public service, Solis said, “has been to fight for families who have been directly impacted by the detrimental effects of lead poisoning.”
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is administering this new program.
Many thousands of homes in Los Angeles County will be inspected for lead contamination, and approximately 5,000 homes of the 720,000 homes built before 1951 will be selected for lead remediation. Over the next seven years, L.A. County will receive $134 million to eliminate lead hazards in these homes.
A major source of lead poisoning is lead from paint chips and paint dust. Lead-based paint was banned in 1978.
Another important local source is the lead from the Exide Battery Plant in Vernon, which was forced to close in 2015. Lead is a major problem in many areas surrounding Vernon. A USC study found high concentrations of lead in the teeth of children whose families live near the Exide Battery Plant.
Lead poisoning is a serious public health issue. In unborn babies and children, lead poisoning can lead to problems with brain development. Infants, toddlers and children may exhibit behavior changes, learning disabilities, and chronic anemia. Lead poisoning leads to lifelong health and learning problems.
Lead poisoning is “silent.” Often parents don’t realize they or their children are suffering from lead poisoning until they receive results of a blood test. Many pregnant women and parents, unaware, don’t ask their doctors for the test.
At South Los Angeles Health Projects, WIC health educators encourage parents to have their children aged 1 year to 3 years tested for lead levels. Janice Ahana is a registered dietitian at the Compton WIC Center, where she counsels approximately 200 parents per month regarding health issues and nutrition. This includes lead poisoning.
“Lead is a poison. Keep your child safe,” Ahana said. “When I meet with parents, we’ll talk about where kids get lead from. I suggest that they look around their homes for pottery containers, which often contain lead. Cooking with these utensils can leach lead into foods. I also tell them about the risks of eating some candies from outside of the U.S.
“Certain toys from other countries are made from materials containing lead,” Ahana added. “Children put these in their mouths. I tell them, ‘Don’t let your children eat dirt, bite on lead pencils or bite on anything painted.’ As lead also gets on their hands, it’s important for the children to wash their hands often.
“Some parents have been exposed to lead at work,” Ahana said. “I suggest that parents wash their hands frequently, take daily showers, and change their clothes, especially if they have been exposed to lead at work,” Ahana said. “Try not to bring work clothes and work shoes into the house. Wash work clothes separately from other clothing.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no safe blood level of lead. However, a level of 5 mcg/dL (micrograms per deciliter) or higher is commonly used to indicate an unsafe level for children.
“The nutritionists and dietitians at WIC meet with parents whose children test at 5 mcg/dL and higher for lead poisoning to talk about healthy foods that help protect children and adults and reduce lead’s absorption by the body,” Ahana said. “These nutrients are: Calcium, found in milk, yogurt, soy milk, tofu, collard greens and spinach. Iron, found in lean meats, eggs, iron-fortified cereals, peanut butter, eggs, beans and lentils. Vitamin C, found in oranges, grapefruits, kiwis, strawberries, tomatoes, and red and green peppers. Some of these foods can be purchased with the WIC Card.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the same nutrients to women who may become pregnant and to pregnant women. These nutrients protect unborn infants from the lead to which their mothers may have been exposed.
The 11 WIC Centers managed by South Los Angeles Health Projects are located in South Los Angeles on Central Avenue, Figueroa Street, Florence Avenue, and Manchester Avenue, and in Bell Gardens, Compton, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lynwood, Paramount, and South Gate. South Los Angeles Health Projects is a non-profit public health agency. All its services are free.
For more information about WIC, phone (310) 661-3080 or visit https://wicforyou.org. The website wicforyou.org explains more about lead poisoning and nutrition. To learn about eligibility for the L.A. County lead abatement program, contact the L.A. County Department of Public Health at 1-800-LA-4-LEAD (1-800-524-5323).
