Maryland Elementary School Students Exposed to Lead Due to Contaminated Water Pipes

Lead contamination and lead poisoning continue to be major health and safety issues impacting children and families throughout Baltimore and the state of Maryland. Recently, an elementary school in Landover Hills, Maryland was forced to hand out bottled water to students following the discovery of dangerous levels of lead in many of the water fountains and sinks at Glenridge Elementary School. Parents are worried that their children may have unknowingly been exposed to and ingested lead.

Click here to read more about this case of lead contamination.

Lead is an extremely toxic metal, and when young children are exposed to even a small amount of lead, the consequences can be devastating and permanent. Lead poisoning can cause symptoms including:

  • Delayed developmental growth
  • Aggressive and/or antisocial behavior
  • Learning disabilities
  • ADD or ADHD

In more extreme cases, lead poisoning can also cause more acute and potentially deadly medical problems such as brain swelling (encephalitis), convulsions and coma.

Earlier this year it was estimated that as many as 56,000 children in Baltimore City could be at risk of lead poisoning due to hazardous, decaying lead paint found on the interiors and exteriors of many old homes in low-income neighborhoods.  Whether children are exposed to lead in their drinking water, in the soil, or even in their own homes, it can cause a lifetime of serious health issues.

The attorneys at Yost Legal Group are experienced professionals ready to investigate your claim with compassion and determination.  If your child was exposed to lead paint or any other environmental source of lead, call The Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529) for a FREE consultation.

The Yost Legal Group – Experienced Attorneys Dedicated to Protecting Your Rights

Millions of Children in the United States are Exposed to Lead

Lead paint poisoning has been an epidemic in Baltimore. According to the CDC, 4 million homes in the U.S. have children who are being exposed to lead. No safe level of lead has been defined. Children are more likely to ingest lead than adults, and are more vulnerable to the effects of lead. Children who have excessive hand to mouth activity, and put toys, paint chips, dust, or soil in their mouths are at even greater risk.

Lead poisoning has been found to affect behavior and intelligence in children. Lead poisoning is more severe in children because they have a proportionately larger body surface area than adults, therefore, a greater ratio of lead will be absorbed by their bodies. Additionally, children’s brains are not fully developed and are more susceptible to the long term effects of lead poisoning.

Children who live in poorly maintained homes that were built prior to 1978 are needlessly placed in greater risk and are more likely to be exposed to lead. If your child lived in an older home and has problems with anger, or has been diagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability, he or she may have been poisoned by lead. The Yost Legal Group is a law firm with over ten years of experience representing children who were poisoned by lead and who will suffer from the negative effects of lead poisoning for the rest of their lives. Call us today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (967-8529).

FDA Issues Safety Warning About Medicinal Clay Product Due to Elevated Levels of Lead

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to avoid “Bentonite Me Baby” by Alikay Naturals due to a risk of lead poisoning.

“Bentonite Me Baby” is marketed as medicinal clay that can be ingested or applied topically for the treatment of several conditions. However, safety testing of this product revealed that that “Bentonite Me Baby” tested positive for elevated levels of lead.

Read more about this product warning here.