Lead abatement programs targeting more than 3,300 Lancaster County dwellings have remediated 377 so far [Lancaster Watchdog]

Lead poisoning has been linked to long-term cognitive impairments as well as behavioral impacts such as aggression and hyperactivity. The Lead Free Families program that paid for the removal of the lead hazards from the Wilkinsons’ home was launched with a $50 million investment by LG Health in 2021 with the goal of remediating lead hazards from more than 2,800 Lancaster County residential dwellings by 2031.

According to the 2021 Childhood Lead Surveillance Annual Report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, 241 children under age 6 in the county showed elevated levels of lead in their blood in 2021. At the time, Lancaster County had 40,687 children under 6.

The number of children who suffered lead poisoning is likely an undercount due to low rates of testing. In 2021, only 22.6% of children under 6 in Lancaster city were tested for lead poisoning, while only 13.2% of children under 6 in the county were tested. Statewide testing rates were at 18.7%.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lead-abatement-programs-targeting-more-than-3-300-lancaster-county-dwellings-have-remediated-377-so/article_89976dec-0f76-11ee-bf25-9fd28acea7ec.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share