- http://www.thelundreport.org/resource/years_after_its_ban_lead_paint_exacts_a_toll_on_human_health
- http://www.thelundreport.org/resource/childhood_lead_action_level_drops_but_funding_lags
- http://www.thelundreport.org/resource/many_homeowners_unaware_of_lead_contamination
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
10/16/2012 10/29/2012 11/15/2012
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
This story focused on the ongoing effects of lead on human health, particularly lead paint in older homes. With gentrification — and subsequent remodeling of older homes — lead exposure is affecting different populations than those it was previously associated with. While the CDC has reduced its “action level” for blood lead contamination, it has drastically reduced the funds available for testing and interventions.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I reviewed EPA and local government documents and tried to reach the CDC for followup information, though I had more success getting information from local jurisdictions.
Explain types of human sources used.
I attended a conference on lead and safe housing, interviewed a woman whose children were poisoned during a remodel (the contractor said he was EPA certified but he actually was not), accompanied an inspector from the county health department on a home visit, and also tried to find out what my state will be able to do as a result of the increased CDC action level.
Results:
I intend to stay in touch with the human subjects I interviewed throughout 2013, and also to keep on eye on whether the CDC makes any recommendations or funding changes regarding the reduced alert level.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
No corrections, clarifications or pushback.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
This issue has been discussed more in the past few months than in the previous 10 or 20 years, it seems, and I think that trend is going to continue. There are a number of ways to look at it — one thing I didn’t explore deeply but was really interested in is the trendy diagnosis of “heavy metals poisoning,” and administration of chelation therapy, by naturopathic doctors, who use a different diagnostic route for heavy metals poisoning than other providers.