Despite the fact that lead has been removed from many products such as paint and gasoline, nearly 1.7 million young children have elevated blood levels according to recent Center for Disease Control estimates. The incidence of lead poisoning has declined over the last 10 years, but thousands of Philadelphia children still have elevated levels. Philadelphia ranks second in the country as the city with the highest number of lead poisoned children. Most at risk are low income children living in poorly maintained homes built before the 1978 ban of lead based paint for residential use. According to the Philadelphia Health Department, there are about 1400 homes with dangerous levels of lead paint chips and dust awaiting cleanup in the city.
Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, impared hearing, behavioral provlems and at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even death. Young children up to the age of six are especially at risk because of their developing systems. They often ingest lead paint chips and dust while playing in their homes and yards.
In ENVS 404, Penn undergraduates will learn about the epidemiology of lead poisoning, the pathways of exposure, and methods for community outreach and education. Penn students will collaborate with middle school and high school teachers in West Philadelphia to engage middle school children in exercises that apply environmental research relating to lead poisoning in their homes and neighborhoods.