What if for every dollar you invested, you could be guaranteed a return of between $17 and $221 dollars? Even in financially strapped times, you’d come up with the cash, right?
Well, a new cost-benefit analysis by the Economic Policy Institute estimates that by eliminating lead exposure to young children, we could save a bundle through reduced health care costs, reduced criminal activity, increased IQ, higher lifetime earnings, increased tax revenue and less spending on special education.
Laws eliminating lead from gasoline, food, beverage cans and new house paint, among other things, have substantially reduced young children’s exposure to lead. Local health initiatives and lead abatement efforts have also helped reduce lead exposure. However, lead poisoning is still a threat to many children in Wisconsin. Low-income children and children of color are particularly at risk, as they are more likely to live in older housing that contains lead-based paint. This significant inequity contributes to disparities in health and developmental outcomes based on race and economic status.
Lead poisoning is entirely preventable. Lead has no known value to the human body. Research indicates that even at very low levels there is significant brain damage to children who are exposed. Most children who are lead poisoned are exposed in their own homes from ingesting lead paint dust. Eliminating lead exposure in children’s homes makes the most sense and provides a sizable return on the investment.
You can learn more about who is lead poisoned in Wisconsin from Lead-Safe Wisconsin or the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count Data Center.
