The St. Joseph County Health Department will be doing lead testing Saturday, June 12th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the El Paraiso parking lot on South Michigan Street in South Bend. They'll test kids 6 andMore >>
On any given day the St. Joseph County Health Department has 70 to 80 children they're working with because of lead poisoning. Recently they've seen kids who have traces of lead which originated from Mexican bean pots. The cases are especially seen among children in the Hispanic community.
Lead poisoning can cause high blood pressure and kidney damage. It can also cause more serious problems like brain damage and behavioral problems. Workers with the Health Department say it doesn't take much to cause lead poisoning.
"If you took a penny and cut it into two million pieces, and put ten pieces in a half cup of water, that would be the concentration at which a child is considered lead poisoned," explained Megan Wright, the Coordinator of the Healthy Homes Program.
On Saturday, June 12th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the health department will offer free lead testing on kids ages six and younger and pregnant women. They'll be at the El Paraiso parking lot on South Michigan Street in South Bend. On Saturday, June 26th they'll be at El Campito from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
