Childhood lead poisoning is too infrequently regarded as an environmental issue. But what is more environmental than a sickness brought on by exposure to airborne particles or chips of peeling lead paint in and around the home? It's a residue of the decades (until 1978) when the interior of homes was regularly painted with lead-bearing paints. One of the great environmental success stories of all time is the health improvement brought about by banning lead in indoor paint and as an additive in gasoline.
Here's a sickening story, literally, of a child in Michigan. There are thousands of such stories nationally. Michigan Environmental Council has put great effort, working with children's advocates, to reduce the estimated 22,000 lead poisoned kids in the state.
http://www.freep.com/news/childrenfirst/lead21e_20041021.htm
Milk-colored foam bubbled from Tyler Varner's lips as his tiny body jerked spasmodically, eyes fluttering back in his head.
"I screamed and screamed. I was hysterical," said Tyler's mom, Terry Ward, of the 3 a.m. terror one summer night last year when her then-2-year-old son almost died.
The diagnosis: Severe lead poisoning from peeling paint in their Harper Woods apartment.
Posted by Dave at October 21, 2004 05:23 PM