Lead Poisoning in Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn is home to many dwellings and apartment buildings built before 1978, when the laws regarding lead paint were changed. If you or a loved one has been exposed to lead paint or lead in other materials, you know it can be traumatizing and difficult to deal with. Even though the Federal government banned lead paint in residential homes, multiple layers of paint remain in homes built before 1978 and lead poisoning has also been reported when homes containing lead-based paint are remodeled or renovated without proper precautions being taken.

Bringing about a lead poisoning lawsuit requires experienced Brooklyn lead paint attorneys who understand these cases. At the Law Office of Nicholas E. Tzaneteas, we will investigate the case, help gather and review all evidence, and make sure a qualified inspector determines the source of the lead paint or lead chips which caused the poisoning of your child, as well as speak to medical professionals and do all the research needed for your case.

Landlords and homeowners may try to avoid taking responsibility for their negligence in many ways. They can deny that they knew there were kids living on the premises, or deny that they knew of the lead paint on the walls, or they may even try to claim that the child’s medical issues are a result of something other than lead paint, and shift the blame. We are here to make sure the right person or entity is held responsible for this crime.

Adults with Lead Poisoning are more likely to have:

• Reduced sperm count or abnormal sperm
• Difficulties with pregnancy, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth
• Headaches
• Mood disorders
• Digestive issues
• High blood pressure needing medications
• Nerve issues
• Muscle and joint pain
• Concentration issues, as well as memory problems

Lead poisoning is even more dangerous to young children under six and expectant mothers. If a pregnant woman is exposed to or ingested lead paint, they are more likely to have difficulty with pregnancy, miscarriages, stillbirths, or have an infant born prematurely, with lower birth weight, or slowed growth. These results are dramatic and scary and can cause lifelong problems for these children.

If you believe you have been exposed to lead paint, you should contact a lead exposure lawyer who can help you navigate the justice system and find out who is at fault for your condition.

Lead Poisoning Symptoms in Children:

• Developmental delays
• Learning difficulties
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Sluggishness and fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Hearing loss
• Seizures
• Eating things, such as paint chips or paper, which are not food (known as pica)

Medical professionals in New York, especially pediatricians, are required to test kids for the presence of lead in their systems, watch out for symptoms of lead poisoning, and give parents and caregivers advice on what to look for and how to recognize those symptoms themselves, as well as potential risk factors. Healthcare providers can fail to administer these required tests or could forget to give advice or preventative information to caregivers, or may even fail to accurately diagnose and treat lead poisoning. These healthcare professionals may be at least partly liable.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there is no “safe” level of lead exposure for children. Even a low level of this neurotoxin in their blood can lead to lower IQ levels, hurt their ability to pay attention, and can affect their academic achievement throughout their life. Unfortunately, the effects of lead exposure cannot be cured. Prevention is key.

How To Protect Against Lead Paint?

• If you live in a house or apartment building built before 1978, have your home inspected by a licensed lead inspector and cleared for safety.
• If you believe your child might be exposed, use wet paper towels to clean up lead dust, especially around windows, play areas, and the flooring.
• Wash yours and your child’s hands often, and wash their toys with soap and water.
• If you suspect cracking or peeling paint has lead in it, use contact paper or duct tape to cover the chipping paint until you can have it inspected and removed.
• Always keep pregnant women and small children away from home renovations, which can produce toxic dust. Also, be sure you are using licensed workers who are trained in lead safety.

Lead is found in more than just paint. Other than paint, products and substances that commonly contain lead are some household and renovation dust, ceramics, home remedies, some hair dyes, some cosmetics, candy and toys made overseas, and lead can be found in some work, such as auto refinishing, construction, and plumbing.

Some Important Lead Paint Facts:

• Lead poisoning is caused by both swallowing and even breathing in lead.
• Children under 6 years old are most at risk for lead poisoning.
• Lead can cause serious learning and behavior problems in children, including slowing down growth and development, damaging hearing and speech, and making it more difficult for the child to pay attention and learn.
• Most children get lead poisoning from lead paint in homes built before 1978. The dust from cracking and peeling paint is so small it often cannot be seen, but is ingested.
• A lead test performed by a doctor is the only real way to know if someone has lead poisoning. Many children exposed to lead to not look, act, or feel “sick.”
• Exposure to lead can also occur from water, when lead pipes carrying the water corrode and the lead leaches into the water and becomes your drinking water.

One important reason you require a qualified lead exposure lawyer in Brooklyn is because we understand that lead poisoning in New York is governed under Local Law 1 of 2004, which is “a comprehensive law concerning the prevention of childhood lead poisoning through the remediation of lead paint hazards in housing.” And all that law entails in relation to your ongoing difficulties after being exposed to the neurotoxins in lead.

If you or your child has been exposed, you need the best Brooklyn lead paint lawyer, and here at the Law Office of Nicholas E. Tzaneteas, you will get the care and compassion you deserve during this difficult time in your life. We will help you receive compensation for all medical expenses, physical, speech, and occupational therapies, lost wages, disability, and to cover your pain and suffering.