HUD secretary proposes lowering acceptable lead level for children

Children that have high levels of lead in their blood walk past a peeling lead paint wall July 25, 2003 in their apartment in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. A new study released October 22, 2003 by the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation has concluded that 1 in 4 children in some parts of New York are at risk for lead poisoning. Children ingest lead paint and lead paint dust, resulting in lead poisoning, which causes irreversible brain and central nervous system damage. While lead paint was banned in housing construction in New York in 1960, buildings built before 1960 still have high amounts of lead which landlords, especially in impoverished neighborhoods, are reluctant to remove.