New Data Shows Increase In Lead Poisonings In Grand Rapids

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waterfaucet-18

New data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has found a 40% increase in cases of child lead poisonings in Southeastern Grand Rapids. Paul Hann is the Executive Director of the Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan. He spoke with Michigan News Network about the study.

“It’s not the water,” Hahn said. “The water source in Grand Rapids has checked out as very clean. “We know that it’s related to housing lead dust in the older housing from the paint. Why the uptick, we suspect that it might be related to the housing market and renovations.”

In 2016, the data shows over 600 children in Kent County had elevated blood-lead levels. Two thirds of the cases were in high-poverty and minority neighborhoods in Grand Rapids.