Reuters: Study flags El Paso for high levels of lead levels in children

A national study released by Reuters shows an alarming number of children in El Paso with high levels of lead in their blood.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported at least 4 million households have children living in them that are being exposed to high levels of lead.

The agency added there are approximately half a million U.S. children ages 1 to 5 with blood lead levels above 5 micrograms per deciliter, the level at which the CDC recommends public health actions be initiated.

An interactive map on an article published by Reuters reveals alarming numbers for the city of El Paso and surrounding areas.

Below is a list of the test results of children 6 and under tested between 2005 and 2011:

Area code 79901: 2,323 tested, 12.66 percent with elevated levels

Area code 79902: 2,072 tested, 13.08 percent with elevated levels.

Area code 79903: 2,152 tested, 10.83 percent with elevated levels.

Area code 79904: 4,221 tested, 10.31 percent with elevated levels.

Area code 79905: 4,676 tested, 10.40 percent with elevated levels.

Area code 79907: 7,350 tested, 4.27 percent with elevated levels.

Area code 79912: 3,410 tested, 3.58 percent with elevated levels.

Area code 79925: 2,439 tested, 3.03 percent with elevated levels.

Area code 79938: 6,484 tested, 4.13 percent with elevated levels.

Area code 79930: 3,595 tested, 9.65 percent with elevated levels.

Area code 79936: 9,670 tested, 3.26 percent with elevated levels.

Environmental Conditioning is a local business which conducts abatements on homes and businesses with high lead levels. Regional Manager Irma Veloz Mason says there are certain parts of town that her company frequents.

“Home in the downtown area, south El Paso area, Lower Valley and in Northeast El Paso,” she said. Veloz Mason says her business abates homes at least once a month, and she hopes the numbers reported open up a discussion to inform people about the dangers of lead.

The CDC reports that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Lead exposure can affect nearly every system in the body. Officials say lead exposure often occurs with no obvious symptoms and that it frequently goes unrecognized. Childhood lead poisoning can damage the brain and nervous system, slow growth, and development, create learning, behavior, hearing and speech problems.

Officials said lead can be found in toys, imported candies, water, homes built before 1978, when lead-based paints weren’t banned, and certain jobs involved working with lead-based products.

“Try and keep your home in good repair and make sure you do not have loose, flaky paint,” Veloz Mason said. “If you are concerned, there are companies in town that can provide you with lead inspections and lead risk assessment.”

The CDC reports that 535,000 children ages 1 to 5 have blood lead levels high enough to damage their health and that 24 million homes in the U.S. contain deteriorated lead-based paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust.

Officials recommend taking certain steps to prevent lead poisoning:

Talk with your child’s doctor about a blood lead test Call the health department about testing paint and dust in your home for lead, if your home was built before 1978 Remove recalled toys and toy jewelry from children and discard appropriately

ABC-7 has reached out to the city of El Paso and the CDC to get the most recent numbers on lead levels in the Borderland.