Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

9-15-2020

SSRN Discipline

Legal Scholarship Network; PSN Subject Matter eJournals; Political Economy - Comparative eJournals; Medical Specialties eJournals; LSN Subject Matter eJournals; MedRN Subject Matter eJournals; Political Science Network; Environmental & Natural Resources Law eJournals; Medical Research Network; Health Law eJournals

Abstract

Despite over a century of evidence that lead is a neurotoxin that causes irreparable harm today lead continues to pervade children's environments and remains a constant threat to health and wellbeing One in three homes across the United States housing children under the age of six has significant leadbased paint hazards that place occupants at risk of permanent neurological harm and lifelong poor health risks During the COVID19 pandemic the potential for lead exposure and lead poisoning increased due to a reduction in well child visits strained public health departments the move to remote learning and strategies to contain the COVID19 pandemic that required shelter in place As the United States works to contain the virus it must also prioritize the control of lead hazards to prevent permanent harm to children Federal state and local governments must use a range of primary prevention strategies in order to fully eradicate the risks and protect children from lead poisoning This Article provides a comprehensive examination of best practices for addressing lead poisoning and proposes urgent reform measures at the local and state levels Successful interventions ultimately prioritize health justice strategies and rely on community ownership and crosssector participation dedicate significant resources and funding to completely eliminate lead in the environment and prioritize primary prevention practices that identify leadbased paint hazards before children are exposed

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