Iowa, compared to other states, has a high percentage of older homes that were painted with lead-based paint. That puts children in Iowa at a much greater risk for lead poisoning and a variety of health problems. There are programs around the state to help homeowners reduce lead hazards. Jennifer and Bryan Minney of Cedar Rapids learned their home, built in the 1950s, had lead paint. Their own children and some foster children were put at risk…..
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The Minney’s learned about a local “Hazard Hunters” grant program and had the lead paint removed from the exterior of their home….
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The Linn County Hazard Hunters program is federally funded. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports the prevalence of lead poisoning among children in Iowa under the age of six is seven-percent. That’s more than four times the national average. Lead poisoning is usually caused by lead-based paint found in homes built before 1960. About 45-percent of the homes in Iowa were built before 1960. This week is designated as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.