Pittsburgh Lead Poisoning

Childhood lead poisoning causes irreversible damage to a young child's brain. Young children, particularly those under the age of seven, are growing the critical circuits in their brain necessary for the development of important skills later in life. When lead is introduced to the blood stream, the toxic metal interrupts the development of the brain at those important stages, and a child loses out on the ability to develop skills necessary for a successful academic and professional career.

Lead poisoned children typically have trouble with working memory, cognitive flexibility, attentional control, tuning out stimuli, and impulse control-all essential executive functions that allow for planning, reasoning, and problem solving. These deficits put them at a disadvantage compared to their peers, and often lead to struggles in school, both academically and behaviorally. When a lead poisoned child grows up, these same struggles affect his or her ability to hold a job, and a lead poisoned child will often go on to earn significantly less over their lifetime.

Although the Allegheny County Department of Health will intervene when a child's blood-lead level is at or above 15 mcg/dL, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. In fact, levels as low as 3 mcg/dL have been shown to cause cognitive and attentional deficits in young children. High levels can have devastating effects, such as seizures, coma, and even death.

Just how pervasive childhood lead poisoning is in Allegheny County is not clear. Although the county has a disproportionate amount of high risk housing units, as compared to the national average, the lead prevention program does not require that children receive a blood lead test. Thus, it is likely that the problem in Pittsburgh and the whole of Allegheny County is severely under-reported.

That is why it is important that parents be proactive and get their children tested for a blood-lead level. If you live in an older rented home, report any sign of chipping, peeling, or defective paint to your landlord immediately. If your child has a blood-lead level below Department of Health's intervention level, call your local department and request an inspection. Finally, contact an experienced lead poisoning attorney to get your child the compensation he or she needs and deserves to overcome the devastating, lifelong effects of childhood lead poisoning.

Contact our attorneys today if your child has tested positive for lead poisoning. Please call 1-866-667-6410 or submit an email inquiry through our website, and we can help determine whether you or your child has a case.