By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Two Erie County lawmakers are vowing to restore funding to the county's lead testing program to make sure inner city children are tested and protected.
High lead levels have plagued Buffalo for years. Experts say one of the problems is old city homes, once painted with lead based paints. The city ranks the worst in the state for high lead contamination. But now the county's program to screen for blood lead levels in children has been jeopardized by recent budget cuts.
Wednesday Legislature Chairman George Holt and lawmaker Demone Smith stood along East Ferry -- a neighborhood that has some of the highest lead levels in the city. Holt says they are asking the Legislature to restore about $46,000 to re-hire a sanitary chemist and clerk.
"Approximately 27% of all eligible children should be tested this year in Erie County, but we will not be able to comply with the law," Holt said. "We will be speaking with the administration this week to restore this vital service."
Dr. Mindy Cameron, a local pediatrician, has treated Buffalo children with lead poisoning the last 20 years. She says they rely heavily on the County Heath Department to find the source of the lead and conduct screenings.
"Lead is a neurotoxin at very low levels," Cameron explained. "Over the past 20 years, we have become more aware of that, and kids are affected before they show symptoms. They need to be screened, and it is the responsibility of the Health Department to do that."
East Side resident Rhonda Lee knows first hand about the devastating effects of lead -- all three of her children suffer from lead poisoning.
"They have speech problems, learning disabilities and are hyper," Lee said.
Despite the fiscal crunch, Holt says he believes the county will now be able to support the funds. He plans to file a resolution next Tuesday and expects a vote at the July 14th session.
Holt says County Executive Giambra has reassured him that he would support his efforts to fully restore the lead program.