Shelby County hopes to screen twice as many kids for lead exposure
“Lead poisoning threatens the health of Shelby County residents, particularly young children in underserved communities,” Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said in a statement. “Expanded screening of children and testing and remediation of home environments will pay off for our entire community in better health both now and in the future.” (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
There is no safe amount of lead exposure on people and, even in small amounts, it can cause hyperactivity, behavioral issues and learning problems, especially in young children.
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Shelby County Health DepartmentKeely Brewer
Keely Brewer is a Report for America corps member covering environmental impacts on communities of color in Memphis. She is working in partnership with the Ag & Water Desk, a sustainable reporting network aimed at telling water and agriculture stories across the Mississippi River Basin.
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