Much of the housing in the Alabama Black Belt is older and has safety hazards, including lead. While the blood lead levels in the U.S. have dramatically decreased, the exposure burden is not equally distributed.
Lead disproportionately affects neighborhoods characterized by older homes, lower family incomes, lower housing values and higher proportions of minority and immigrant families and is demonstrated by the levels observed in Alabama.
When examining the 2019 lead data from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH, data contained 25,168 records, the mean age was 24.54±17.03 months) the mean lead level by county was 2.22±0.91 mcg/dL which is higher than the national average. Additionally, county lead levels were significantly higher in counties with higher percentages of Black residents and with lower household incomes.
Based on a review of the home lead assessments performed by ADPH over the past three years, the major source of lead is paint dust. In addition to paint dust, children are also exposed to lead dust from miniblinds, and parents work clothes. We are confident that appropriate education and awareness will significantly reduce lead exposure in children.
We are collaborating with the Town of Fort Deposit in Lowndes County on a HUD Lead Capacity Building grant. The goals of the project, Healthy Haven, are to 1) increase awareness about lead and the consequences of lead exposure, 2) build the capacity of Fort Deposit to address lead issues in their community, and 3) remediate lead in homes in the target area.