The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded CEI a grant to study the relationship between pediatric lead poisoning and exterior housing conditions. Within the Impact Lead-Kansas City (IL-KC) project, CEI researchers will partner with personnel from the KCMO Health Department, Children's Mercy Hospital, and the UMKC School of Medicine to address this ongoing public health crisis. Children in Missouri and the KCMO metropolitan area are exposed to lead hazards and endure elevated blood lead levels more often than their peers in other locations. Exposure to this environmental toxin interferes with their academic achievement and can cause chronic health conditions. This study will explore rapid, cost-effective methods to detect lead hazards so that they can be remediated before children are exposed to them.
Community engagement is a core principle of CEI's mission. In addition to the academic study, CEI researchers will attend public health and community events to distribute lead safety literature and offer attendees the opportunity to participate in the IL-KC study. The IL-KC grant allocates funding to lead remediation in homes where hazards are found.
For additional information, contact CEI research staff.