NEW HAVEN, Conn. (June X, 2009) - The New Haven Health Department's Bureau of Environmental Health is teaming up with the Yale-New Haven Lead Program to host the 9th Annual Lead Awareness Picnic in the Lighthouse Park Carousel Building on Sunday, June 14th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This free community event aims to educate local families about childhood lead poisoning prevention through educational booths, giveaways and entertainment that parents and children of all ages can enjoy.

"The Lead Awareness Picnic in New Haven is one of the city's several efforts to help educate families about this serious yet entirely preventable condition," said Paul Kowalski, New Haven Health Department's environmental health director. "Over the years, this annual event, in combination with numerous efforts year-round, has resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of childhood lead cases in New Haven. However, the importance of bringing these numbers down even further cannot be overstated."

Representatives from the City will be present to discuss the New Haven Lead Hazard Control Program, through which homeowners may receive funding to abate the lead on their properties. These forgivable loans, of up to $12,000.00 per housing unit, are made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Representatives from the Health Department, the Yale-New Haven Lead program, and other service agencies will join local entertainers, including a magician, clowns and a puppeteer who will be on hand to demonstrate lead safety practices to participants through educational materials and interactive shows. More than 500 of New Haven's community members are expected to be present to learn lead poisoning prevention tips while enjoying the food, entertainment and games.

"Parents and children who are educated on possible lead threats are more likely to take steps towards preventing lead poisoning in their homes and communities," said Kowalski. "While childhood lead poisoning has gained attention in recent years, many New Haven residents are still unaware of this problem."

Families will learn how they can reduce children's risk of ingesting lead through frequent hand washing, thorough housecleaning to remove lead dust and lead-safe home improvement practices. Health and environmental experts recommend that parents take the following precautions to prevent childhood lead poisoning:

- Serving meals high in calcium, iron and low in fat helps "block" the body's absorption of lead;
- Washing children's hands thoroughly and frequently helps prevent lead ingestion;
- Wet mopping paint dust and chips helps reduce the chances a child will ingest lead; and
- Eliminate lead hazards safely.

"Lead poisoning prevention is particularly significant in New Haven, where health care providers reported that 259 children still tested positive for elevated blood lead levels in New Haven in 2008, 48 of whom had moderate to high levels [greater than or equal to 20 micrograms per deciliter of blood], said Kowalski. "Lead poisoning can cause developmental delays, behavioral problems, and at very high levels, seizures, coma and even death."

Children living in homes built before 1978 are at risk for exposure to lead through deteriorated paint, dust and from soil that has been contaminated with lead from old paint, and past emissions of leaded gasoline. Children often appear healthy, while dangerously high blood lead levels rob them of their learning potential and cause irreversible neurological damage. The majority of New Haven's lead poisoning cases are concentrated in the Fair Haven, Hill, Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods where the affected children live predominantly in rental housing units.

The Health Department's Bureau of Environmental Health initiates lead safety awareness and education programs throughout the year, in addition to their regular lead inspection and assessment duties. The Bureau's lead inspectors speak to area children and their families about the importance of lead safety and present information at local health fairs. In addition, the Bureau, together with New Haven's Livable City Initiative, offers a program to financially assist homeowners to remove lead hazards.

If you would like additional information on lead poisoning prevention initiatives in New Haven, please contact:
New Haven Health Department
Bureau of Environmental Health
203-946-8174

Yale-New Haven Lead Program and Regional Treatment Center
203-764-9106