Lead Paint: Know Your Rights, Protect Your Child

America is supposed to be the land of equal opportunity, but here in New York many children’s opportunities are being stripped away by a poison hidden in the walls of their homes: lead paint. Lead poisoning can cause brain damage, behavioral problems, and decreased intelligence.
Even though lead was banned from being included in household paint in the 1970’s, in older homes children are still at risk of lead poisoning.
Under New York City’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, landlords are obligated to identify and remediate lead-based paint hazards in apartments where children under six years old reside.  If a multiple dwelling building was built before 1960, the law presumes lead-based paint is present, and owners must corrects all lead based paint hazards if a child under six resides there.
Owners of buildings with three or more units must ask tenants yearly whether children under the age of six reside there, and, if they do, they are required to inspect the apartments and common areas for lead-based paint hazards like peeling or chipped paint. Any lead paint violations must be removed by workers trained in how to remediate these hazards safely.
Lead is especially dangerous to children under six. Children’s bodies absorb more lead, and their brains are more susceptible to damage from lead. Additionally, children frequently put their hands, toys and other objects which could have lead dust on them in their mouths, which results in exposure to lead.
Parents living in older buildings should report peeling or chipped paint to their landlords promptly and in writing. They should also dust and mop often, as lead paint particles in dust can pose a danger to children playing on floors. For this same reason, pacifiers, teethers, and toys that children may chew on should be washed frequently.
Parents should also be on the lookout for symptoms of lead poisoning, such as developmental delays, behavior problems, such as hyperactivity, learning problems, and decreased appetite and energy.
At Bonina and Bonina, P.C., we have been successfully fighting for injured New York workers for over 50 years. Our attorneys have the knowledge, experience and determination to hold negligent landlords responsible, and to get the maximum compensation for your child. Contact us today at 1-888-MedLaw1 (888-633-5291) or online so we can help you. The consultation is free. Home and hospital visits are available. Se habla espaňol.