3,400 children in Lucas County have elevated lead levels

On any given day, 3,400 children in Lucas County maintain elevated blood lead levels, according to Monica Smith, the city’s lead safe coordinator. The figure highlights a persistent health burden in a region where more than 80% of the housing stock was constructed before 1978, the year lead-based paint was banned for residential use.

To address this infrastructure gap, the city is deploying a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds will assist homeowners who cannot afford to fix lead paint hazards, prioritizing residences where children have already tested high for lead exposure. Jerry Culkowski, the lead grant program manager, stated that the program provides financial assistance to families who might otherwise be unable to address poisoning risks in their homes.

The city’s enforcement mechanisms have tightened in recent years. A 2016 ordinance required lead inspections for certain rental properties and home daycares built before 1978. A newer version of the law, effective last year, established a framework for the city to sue non-compliant landlords in housing court. Smith noted that the city has referred several hundred individuals to housing court so far, observing that a large portion of those referred subsequently comply with the rules.

Local health officials point to state-wide data that underscores the urgency. Approximately three in five Ohio toddlers enrolled in Medicaid fail to receive required blood lead screening tests. Despite these gaps in monitoring, Ohio ranks among the highest states in the nation for lead exposure risk. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention links lead exposure to slowed development, lower IQ, and reduced attention span in schools.

The Toledo Lead Resource Center supports the remediation effort by training lead abatement workers, risk assessors, and painters. Candace Buckley, the organization’s executive director, emphasized that building a local workforce is essential to addressing the volume of housing in need of repair. The center also helps families find additional resources.

Culkowski acknowledged the scale of the problem relative to available resources. He described the city’s efforts as making a dent in the issue but noted that the city is still scratching the surface. The city continues to apply for federal resources and enforce local codes to manage the lead risks in its older neighborhoods.