By mid-March, the issue of lead poisoning becoming a harsh reality struck the city of Newark. Upwards of 17,000 Newark children required testing for lead poisoning due to public concerns over the contents of water in the area. While the results of this testing were not comforting enough to let the issue rest, it also highlighted a growing national concern over the health of children who have been exposed to lead-tainted water.
The concerns over lead poisoning in Newark extend beyond inconvenience and into the harsh realities of how exposure can cause problems for children long-term. Just as lead poisoning can hurt children’s ability to learn, so too can it impact their long-term physical (and intellectual) development. While the switch to bottled water may help, very real problems can and likely do exist for children exposed to this dangerous, tainted water.
Newark’s lead poisoning concerns are not only understandable; they’re even increasingly expected for those living in communities like Flint. The deteriorating infrastructure and cost-cutting maneuvers used by local governments nationwide have led to dangerous water for children, adults, seniors and more. Newark is not an exception to this issue but, instead, part of a growing, very concerning trend.
The future is unclear for Newark in terms of what steps will be taken and how much concern is necessary. Given the fact that schools have already switched away from tap water is evidence enough that a bigger issue has yet to unfold. Those in Newark with lead poisoning concerns should take action now, though, and not in months to come to ensure they limit the damage to their family while protecting their legal rights.
For more information about lead poisoning, view our page on the topic by clicking here. If you are a resident of Newark and the surrounding area with lead poisoning concerns and would like to better understand your legal rights, contact us today. Doing so is the first step in taking action should health and economic concerns emerge as a result of the lead in Newark’s water.
Questions? Contact us today!