Boro Park Needs to “Get the Lead Out,” Community Board 12 Learns

By Yehudit Garmaise

Boro Park is the city’s area that, unfortunately, has one of the highest numbers of children who have tested positive for lead exposure, a New City Council joint hearing on lead poisoning in buildings recently revealed, according to a representative of Council Member Alexa Avilés, who represents District 38.

“The high incidence of lead exposure in Boro Park is no fault of [local] families or children,” he said, “but due to housing conditions, household compositions, big families, and dense neighborhoods, which tend to have more lead exposure: and that is about safe, affordable housing. 

“Most people with lead poisoning do not look or feel sick,” according to nyc.gov. “The only way to know if lead exposure has occurred is to get a blood lead test. If you think you or other family members are at risk for lead poisoning, ask your doctor for a blood lead test. For help finding a doctor: call 311.”

Healthcare providers in New York state are required to test all 1- and 2-year-old children for lead. In addition, pediatricians should take care to assess children for lead exposure every year until they are 6-years-old.

In addition, during initial pre-natal visits, physicians should assess women for lead exposure, says nyc.gov. 

“Workers at risk for lead exposure because of their job should be monitored by their employers,” says the city’s website, which added that employees who work around lead should find out whether their employers have a program that monitors blood lead.

If not, workers should speak with their doctors about getting blood lead tests.”

For more information on potential lead exposure, call 311, and ask for Healthy Homes Information.