LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- City data shows thousands of Louisville children are being exposed to lead at toxic levels.
In many old homes across Jefferson County, an invisible poison is lurking — lead. The most common culprit containing it is paint.
"Poisoning is in there for a reason," Environmental Health Director Nick Hart said. "This is a child or a family who is being exposed to a poison. The only way to address this is to stop poisoning people."
It's a problem still plaguing our community. Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness said between 2005 and 2021, 10,000 children tested positive for having elevated blood lead levels — 59% of those children were Black.
For younger children, the symptoms are nearly invisible.
"Most of the people who are impacted by lead are people who are impacted by most health disparities here in Louisville, and it's just very important that we get out there and we help those who don't have the resources," Kimber Knight, Environmental Health manager, said.
That's why the health department created a dashboard based on its health equity report. The map shows the number of kids younger than 6 years old who have high blood lead levels. The most were in northwest Louisville, where children are more than nine times more likely than children from other neighborhoods to have elevated lead levels.
"If you are a family that is living in an old neighborhood, there is a risk there regardless (of) how many times your home has been remodeled or repainted," said Hart.
Health officials said it's crucial to test for lead if you're in one of these neighborhoods so they can help you remove the lead from your home and keep your family safe.
"We have to find where the lead is in the environment, and we have to remove it from land," Hart said. "Lead poisoning and exposure is 100% preventable."
Lead is a "naturally occurring metal that is toxic to humans and has been used in manufacturing and industrial processes for millennia."
Federal and state laws have banned the use of lead in most commercial products and industrial processes, however lead emitted and/or used before the laws were enacted can linger.
To look at the dashboard, click here.
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