Lead Poisoning Hits Home In Maine
Healthy Homes, Healthy Families recently sponsored a two-part class on the hazards of lead in Lewiston and Auburn. According to the Maine Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Lewiston-Auburn has the highest number of lead poisoned children in Maine.
Lead poisoning is a serious environmental hazard that can lead to learning disabilities and behavioral problems that can last a lifetime. Children are most vulnerable, with lead dust being the main cause.
More than 60% of housing in Maine may have lead paint in it. Those that live in older homes with chipped paint are at the greatest risk and most poisonings that occur in rental property are due to paint in poor condition. Any building or home built before 1950 is likely to contain lead paint.
Lead dust from paint happens in three ways:
- Lack of maintenance
- Normal wear and tear
- Scraping or sanding lead paint
Lead effects many of the body’s organs and tissues, including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems. Symptoms of lead poisoning usually develop over weeks to months as lead builds up in the body during a chronic exposure, but acute symptoms from brief, intense exposures also occur. Classic signs and symptoms in children are loss of appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, weight loss, constipation, anemia, kidney failure, irritability, lethargy, learning disabilities, and behavior problems.
In most cases, lead poisoning is preventable. Frequent hand washing, an increased intake of calcium and iron, discouragement from putting hands to mouth, vacuuming frequently, and removing lead-containing objects from the house such as blinds and jewelry are a good place to start. Lead pipes can also be replaced and lead testing kits are available for detecting the presence of lead in a household.
If a child is poisoned on a rental property, the landlord must pay for the abatement of the property and the expense of relocating the family. Prior to renting a property built before 1978, State and Federal laws require the landlord must provide you with the following booklets:
- Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home
- Maine Lead Disclosure Form
If the building has been tested for lead, the landlord is required to tell you and you have the right to see the results.
Lead dust is preventable. Proper maintenance and testing can help prevent lead poisoning, and free classes are often offered to help Mainers get a better understanding of the potentially harmful disease. In general, keeping paint in good shape is the best way to prevent lead poisoning.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of lead paint poisoning due to a rental home or apartment, call the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein today, you may be entitled to compensation. Often, a landlord’s liability insurance covers injuries resulting from lead paint poisoning. Call us today to speak with one of our legal professionals to find out how we can help you.
And for more information on lead poisoning prevention in Maine or to find an upcoming safety class near you, please visit: www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/lead.
