• Lead Poisoning Project
project leader
Chantez W
location
Norwood
(St. Clair - Superior)
latest update rss
No updates yet.

the project

Water is one of the essential keys to life.  To survive, you need water, but more importantly, you expect clean, safe drinking water when you turn on your faucet to get a drink.  However, if you live in Cleveland and have galvanized water pipes, your drinking water may be contaminated with lead.  

The State of Ohio Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (OHHLPPP) acknowledges that children under the age of 6 and developing fetuses are especially vulnerable to health problems from exposure to lead; including elevated lead in drinking water.  It's been estimated that up to 20 % of the total lead exposure in children can be attributed to a waterborne route, i.e., consuming contaminated water.  A study published in the American Journal of Public Health also stated that 10 to 20 percent of lead poisoning in children, and 40 to 60 percent of lead poisoning in formula-fed infants can be traced back to water. 

Although the Ohio Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (OHHLPPP) and the Cleveland Health Department acknowledge that there is a potential risk of lead poisoning via residential drinking water, drinking water samples are not routinely collected as part of their normal prevention efforts for children testing positive for lead.  

Our goal through this Lead Poisoning Project is to reduce the number of children lead poisoned by drinking water from their home in the city of Cleveland.  

 

the steps

The Cleveland Jamii Organization is an community "Grassroot" environmental organization with experienced personnel to collect residential drinking water samples, conduct residential environmental assessments and manage projects.  

Below is a list of actions our team will take to accomplish our objective

  • Prepare a Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) which describes the sampling locations, numbers and types of samples to be collected, quality control requirements of the project and environmental assessment procedures
  • Identify an organization to analyze results, identify trends and submit a report of the results
  • Contact a State of Ohio Certified Laboratory to test the drinking water for pH, alkalinity, orthophophates, lead and copper; 
  • Purchase 50 EPA approved 1 liter drinking water collection containers
  • Purchase 50 (total) faucet and/or picther drinking water filters
  • Identify volunteer participants with children who live on the Eastside of Cleveland 
  • Follow USEPA drinking water sampling protocols
  • Collect drinking water samples and environmental assessments
  • Volunteer participants who's drinking water exceed the USEPA action level will receive faucet mounted or pitcher drinking water filter 
  • Post results on IOBY website
  • Submit data to local legislators, City of Cleveland, Ohio EPA, US EPA

 

why we're doing it

 

Lead poisoning in the city of Cleveland is a major environmental issue. Since 2013, Cleveland have led the State of Ohio in the percentage of children testing positive for lead. Data from the Ohio Department of Health show that between 2013- 2016, the percentage children tested under 6 years of age with blood lead levels of ≥ 5 µg/dL in city of Cleveland were significantly higher when compared to the city of Columbus and Cincinnati.

 

Local media routinely publish articles such as The Plain Dealer's "Toxic Neglect" series which highlights the lead issues and the obstacles facing prevention organizations. In many news articles, residential drinking water is omitted as a possible source of lead poisoning despite the research data.   

 

The gradual acceptance in the city of Cleveland that the lead poisoning rate cannot be reduced motivated us to take action.  It is our hope that we are not alone with wanting to do something to resolve the lead poisoning issue in the city of Cleveland.  I hope that concerned residents will review this Lead Poisoning Project and contribute to this endeavor as an instrument of change. The knowledge/data gained from this project will be invaluable to prevention organizations, healthcare institutions and city leaders.

 

budget

50 - 1 liter Sampling Containers  (EPA approved)                                        ...$400

 

Contractual Services for State of Ohio Certified Laboratory                        ...$2,600

 

Contractual Services for independent Data Analysis Organization              ...$2,500

 

50 - Faucet Mount Drinking Water Filters/Pitchers                                    ...$1,500

 

Contractual Services for Environmental Assessments/ Sample Collection   ...$2,500

 

Misc. Office                                                                                             ...$500

 

TOTAL                                                                                                  $10,000

 

Subtotal =

10,000

ioby Platform Fee 

$35

ioby Fiscal Sponsorship Fee (5%)

$500

ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%)

$300

Total to raise =

$10,835

 

updates

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photos

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donors

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