Health experts and policy makers meet to tackle child lead poisoning issue

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — In 2023, a total of 1,571 children were lead poisoned in Rhode Island.

An all day summit was held at Rhode Island College where officials and public health and policy experts gathered to talk about lead poisoning in children and the efforts they are making to help with the issue.

The attorney general’s office filed 22 lawsuits and obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties from landlords who have failed to fully address serious lead violations in properties where children were poisoned by lead.

“You deserve to live in a home that is lead-free, that you know is lead-free,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

With a breakdown of each municipality, the City of Providence ranked the highest for child lead poisoning cases.

According to the state, lead poisoning can severely affect mental and physical development, especially for children under six years old.

The Department of Health data said 19% of Providence children are lead poisoned by the time they reach elementary school.

Under state law, following a property inspection by the Department of Health, landlords are given the opportunity to correct lead hazard violations before the attorney general will file an enforcement action.

New laws now allow families affected by childhood lead poisoning to recover up to three times their actual damages.

“Shouldn’t the parents of every child, no matter when the building was built, have confidence that that apartment is safe?” Neronha said. “That the landlord has registered with the department of health because they know that there is a standard they need to live by.”