Lead poisoning an ongoing problem in Richmond’s older homes

From Church Hill to Richmond's North Side and now to the city's South Side, Latoya Avent has crisscrossed Richmond to find a home that doesn't have a lead paint problem.

"We just moved on June 1 because of lead," Avent said. Testing last month showed her 3-year-old daughter's blood lead level was elevated. At 24 micrograms per deciliter of blood, it was more than twice the limit of 10.

"I don't want it to affect her," Avent said, who added that the landlord didn't want to correct the problem.

Richmond City Health District officials are stepping up efforts to reduce lead poisoning, reaching out to parents and physicians with information and reminders to have children younger than 6 tested, particularly those living in areas identified as high risk.

The health district also is working with city agencies to more aggressively go after landlords who own houses with lead contamination.

"The city will give us the addresses of vacant properties, and we are starting to go out and test these vacant properties now," said Michael Welch of the Richmond City Health District. "If they have lead-based paint issues, then we are going to condemn the property so that they're fixed before people can move into them."

Dona Huang , coordinator of the Richmond Lead Safe Program, said that since April, the program has investigated about 22 properties, condemning about 10 of them.

"The purpose of condemning the vacant property is there really is no harm done," Huang said. "We are not relocating, dislocating families. For re-occupancy purposes, they have to make the property lead safe so whoever is moving in there is protected," Huang said.

Huang said that in May and June, the program learned of seven Richmond children with blood lead levels above 20. Early on, there are no symptoms, but over time elevated blood lead levels can reduce IQ, slow growth and development, and cause aggressive behavior.

Children get lead poisoning when they touch peeling or chipping paint on windowsills, for instance, and then put their hands in their mouths. Much of the housing in Richmond was built before lead was prohibited in paint.

Lead dust also can be released during home renovations. It also can be found in the soil in communities near interstates or with old battery factories and in drinking water that runs through old lead pipes. In 2007, there were a number of major toy recalls because of lead paint.

In Virginia in 2007, testing revealed 377 children younger than 6 with elevated blood lead levels. A total of 91,308 children younger than 6 were tested.

Blood lead levels were above 20 in 61 children and above 45 in three children, including one case in Richmond.

During any given year in Richmond, about 60 to 70 children have elevated lead levels, out of about 4,000 to 5,000 tested.

Federal grants have been used to fix lead hazards in homes. But the problem can resurface over time if the lead paint is not totally removed, which can be expensive.

"Obviously in these economic times, that is an issue," Welch said.

Richmond ZIP codes considered high risk for lead paint exposure include 23220, 23221, 23222, 23223, 23224, 23225 and 23231.

Virginia's Medicaid program covers testing, and the Richmond health officials get grant money to work one-on-one with families whose children are affected.

Avent said she received a letter with her daughter's test results, which was followed by a visit from a nurse.

"The nurse came and did an assessment on her. . . . She asked me a bunch of questions. Was she classified as ADHD, did she know her colors, basic stuff a 3-year-old should know," Avent said.

Contact Tammie Smith at (804) 649-6572 or .