Last month, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced that his office had filed lawsuits against five more landlords for noncompliance with lead poisoning prevention laws. According to an official statement from the AG's Office, all of the lawsuits involved properties where significant lead hazards were found and a child was determined to have lead poisoning. These five new lawsuits are in addition to twelve others filed since last fall against landlords who have failed to fully address serious lead violations on their properties.

“Landlords who prioritize profits over the health of children and the risk of lead poisoning will find themselves facing a strong response from our office,” said Attorney General Neronha. “The allegations against the defendants here, and against those in other cases we have brought, are that a landlord was notified multiple times that there is a lead hazard on their property, that a child living there was lead poisoned, and that they did nothing about it. These circumstances are unacceptable, the health consequences are serious, and strong action by this Office is warranted.”

In Rhode Island, all children who live in the state must be screened at least twice for blood lead levels before they are 36 months old. While exposure to lead is dangerous for everyone, children are especially vulnerable due to their growing bodies and tendency to put their hands and objects into their mouths. Lead poisoning can result in developmental delays, learning difficulties, hearing loss and numerous other issues.

Lead-based paints and dusts contaminated with lead are some of the most common sources of lead exposure for children. Unfortunately, many homes and properties built before 1978 still contain lead-based paints. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are millions of households with children living in them that are being exposed to high levels of lead.

Fortunately, testing for lead can help to identify exposure risks in and around homes and buildings so they can be removed or mitigated. EMSL Analytical, with laboratories across the United States and Canada, provides comprehensive environmental lead testing services. They offer all of the sampling supplies needed and even have easy-to-use test kits to identify lead from paint chips, dust and water samples. Several years ago, EMSL sponsored an educational video about protecting children from lead poisoning that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/LkEqFhNDS-U

To learn more about lead or other environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com . To access lead or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

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