Lead Poisoning Prevention

Lead poisoning in Philadelphia is one of the most dangerous, but preventable environmental threats to children. In children, lead poisoning has been associated with reduced intelligence, shortened memory, slowed reaction times, poor hand-eye coordination, and antisocial behavior. Lead-based paint and lead contaminated dust are consistently found in Philadelphia rowhomes. Children from low-income families are especially affected by lead poisoning. PHMC's affiliate organization, the National Nursing Centers Consortium seeks to improve community health by preventing lead poisoning among young children.

The NNCC approaches lead poisoning prevention from all angles: reaching out to low income, new, or expecting mothers through presentations at service agencies (e.g. WIC offices); contacting all new families in Philadelphia through new birth data; and referring pregnant mothers or families with infants into our evidence-based prevention program, Lead Safe DC.