AG Lynch discusses lead paint cleanup

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A home on Fern St. in Providence's Mt. Pleasant neighborhood is one of hundreds being made lead safe under the statewide Healthy Kids Collaborative.

Attorney General Patrick Lynch was among the officials attending a news conference that took place in front of the home Monday morning. The purpose, to update the progress of the DuPont-funded initiative which aims to protect children from lead paint and educate the public on the dangers of the substance.

Under the Healthy Kids Collaborative, as many as 600 low-income housing units are being rid of lead paint. According to Lynch, those homes are mainly located in several target areas in the state: three in Providence, one in Pawtucket, one in Central Falls and another in Woonsocket.

"There is a unique and precious opportunity to bring housing and health together to do primary and secondary prevention and reduce the burden of lead for the children of Rhode Island," said Dr. Ren Archer, Clearcorp USA.

There is enough money left to keep the program going for another two years. DuPont is paying for the initiative as part of its settlement with the state. The paint company agreed to pay millions for lead paint cleanup if the state agreed to dismiss it from a lawsuit naming several paint companies.

The state won a landmark verdict in 2006 against three other defendants, but the state Supreme court reversed that ruling last year.

According to Rhode Island Kids Count , lead exposure can cause irreversible damage including loss of intelligence, learning disabilities and behavioral problems including aggression. The most acute poisoning can result in severe illness and death*. In adults, lead poisoning has been linked to migraines, chronic fatigue, heart disease and sexual dysfunction.

The most common sources of lead poisoning are lead-contaminated dust, peeling and chipping lead paint, contaminated soil and at-risk jobs that involve lead exposure, such as construction.