Editor’s note: This story is Part Three in a three-part series on lead poisoning in Chicago. Read Part One and Part Two. Also, see the results for playgounds tested for lead.
Story By Matthew Hendrickson
March 19, 2009 – Children throughout Chicago suffer lead poisoning, but poor African-American kids are disproportionately affected, city data show.
Chicago’s Englewood, West Englewood and West Garfield Park neighborhoods have the highest lead-poisoning rates with more than 15 percent of children showing elevated lead levels in their blood. In all of these areas the majority of residents are African-American and have median incomes below $30,000 a year.
Englewood has the highest lead-poisoning rate – 17 percent, or 1 in 6 children. The neighborhood also has a median income level below $20,000 a year, according to the 2000 U.S. census report.
Kids in higher income areas suffer from lead-poisoning, but not nearly at the rates seen in poorer neighborhoods.
In the Loop, 3 percent of children have elevated levels of lead in their blood, according to city data from 2003, the most recently available statistics. Only three areas of the city had no positive tests in 2003: Mount Greenwood, Hegewisch and Edison Park. They are among the wealthiest neighborhoods and are majority white.
Advocates worry how lead-poisoning affects schools in poor areas, where children already struggle against gangs, drugs and inadequate health care.
“It definitely adds to the public school’s burden,” said Patrick MacRoy of Alliance for Healthy Homes, a Washington non-profit.
Children with lead poisoning can suffer serious health problems — even death. The illness is mostly associated with decreased IQ levels and behavioral issues.