Toxic Substances

Millions of children have so much lead in their blood that they may suffer from lifelong intelligence and behavioral problems. Efforts to reduce lead hazards have focused mainly on housing, but concern is mounting over the presence of lead in child care facilities and schools, particularly since children spend so much time there. The combined efforts of federal, state, and local governments to counter lead hazards in child care facilities and schools, however, are limited in scope and do not provide a comprehensive approach for defining and alleviating the problem. Little information is available on either the full extent of the danger that lead poses to the nation's school children or on efforts to address the hazard.