It’s not rare for public corporations to cut corners in order to save money. But, when it comes to lead testing, their laziness could be costing you your health.
In 2013, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) falsified documents concerning the lead content of nearly 84,000 public housing units. All units were declared to be lead-free, even though only a few apartments were tested. One development that was particularly affected by this scandal was the Tompkins Houses in Brooklyn. All 1,031 units of the development were determined lead-free, but were barely tested. Years later, an investigation revealed that over 5,000 apartments deemed “lead-free” by the NYCHA contained lead paint- including apartments at Tompkins. These results were achieved through XRF testing.
This prompted the NYCHA to re-inspect 134,000 apartments previously claimed to be free of lead. Their findings so far show that almost half of the “lead-free” apartments contain hazardously high concentrations of lead. While this was a shock to everyone, this was particularly alarming for the tenants living in these locations, who had been under the impression that they were safe from lead poisoning. One tenant of Tompkins, Shari Broomes, shares her experience discovering her daughter was being exposed to high amounts of lead since the date of her birth.
Broomes claims her apartment complex was falling apart. Paint chips and dust would collect on the floors and window sills, which she would sweep and mop daily as a precaution. She would duct tape crumbling sections of her wall, attempting to cover up large holes with mounds of tape. If this wasn’t hazardous enough, her then-toddler Mikhaila was even more susceptible to these hazards as she crawled on the floors and attempted to eat whatever she could get her hands on. At two years old, she began to show symptoms of lead poisoning. Mikhaila couldn’t sleep or eat, so her mother brought her to the hospital. There, they measured the lead level in her bloodstream to be 32 micrograms per deciliter, more than six times the level deemed hazardous by the CDC.
Due to the NYCHA’s lack of efficiency and concern, Mikhaila was poisoned. Her family was told they were safe from lead paint for years, only to discover this was a lie. Families should not have to sacrifice their health so that the NYCHA can cut corners. Lead poisoning is a serious hazard, especially to children and pregnant women. Consequences of lead paint exposure include irreversible damage to the brain, kidneys, and nervous system as well as seizures, unconsciousness, and premature death.
This case study is just one of many examples that stress the importance of lead testing. Take matters into your own hands and get your home tested for environmental hazards. Lead and Mold Detectives offers affordable XRF testing services as well as lead abatement, water sampling, and lead removal. If you suspect your home may contain lead paint, call Lead and Mold Detectives at (516) 407-1111.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic. “Lead Poisoning – Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for
Medical Education and Research, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-
poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354717.
“NYCHA Knew Lead Paint Dangers for Years Before Brooklyn Girl was Poisoned in Public
Housing” The City, www.thecity.nyc/2021/11/28/nycha-lead-paint-lies-brooklyn-girl-