According to a study recently conducted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin, children who have been exposed to high levels of lead are more likely to face discipline problems in school. This raises concerns about potential long-term consequences of lead exposure.
In a press release issued last week, the researchers state that rates of school suspension for discipline problems are up to 3 times higher for children with a history of lead exposure. At first, this problem was partially attributed to race, as the researchers found that African American students are 3 times more likely to face suspension than Caucasian students. However, further research pointed to lead exposure as a prominent factor in these cases. According to the researchers, African American students are more likely to live in older, urban dwellings where lead paint is more common.
One of the researchers, Sheryl Magzamen, states, “We knew that lead exposure decreases children’s abilities to control their attention and behavior, but we were still surprised that exposed children were so much more likely to be suspended.”
Lead-based paint has long been known to be source of concern in the United States. Exposure to lead has also been linked to lower IQ scores and developmental problems, as well as mental retardation, seizures, and even death from lead poisoning.
Many older homes still contain lead paint, especially in urban areas and public housing facilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly 500,000 American children have been found to have unsafe levels of lead in their blood.
In some cases, parties who have suffered injury due to lead exposure have been able to pursue financial compensation in personal injury lawsuits. If you would like more information on lead exposure lawsuits, contact the Law Offices of Melinda J. Helbock, A.P.C.