Environmental Studies Dr. Barry W. Barker

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Environmental StudiesDr. Barry W. Barker

• Activist For Environmental Justice, Inc.-(AFEJ)
• Business Plan
• Ruth Esther Denise Mann

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Activist For Environmental Justice,
INC.(AFEJ,INC)

• Introduction
• The Problem
• Survey
• The Proposed Solution
• The Summary Statement

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Introduction

• Lead Poisoning of children in low income
  areas is an environmental issue. Lead is a silent
  killer if left undetected. This chemical can
  cause slow growth, learning problems, violence,
  convulsions and even death. Lead has been banned
  in gasoline, paint, toys and many other products
  we use in the home. Yet since the 1970s when
  we discovered the problems and dangers of lead
  poisoning, over 300,000 cases of lead poisoning
  of children nationwide are reported annually.
  This is a major environmental issue because lead
  can still be found in the soil, homes, schools,
  daycare centers built before 1978, toys, jewelry,
  phone cords and many other items children come in
  contact with. Its a greater problem in the
  inner city because low income families live in
  older homes, buy cheap toys and jewelry and are
  being affected. We must take a stand help the
  community to become aware of this problem in
  their community. We must help to empower
  residents so they can avoid exposing their
  precious children to the danger of lead in their
  blood. It is important to bring attention to
  this problem that should be eradicated with
  knowledge and empowerment.

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Environmental Impact Statement

• Many children in low-income areas of
  Hillsborough County are potentially exposed to
  toxic poisons in their environment. Hillsborough
  County is the third most environmentally toxic
  county in Florida. We believe that many
  Hillsborough communities may be
  disproportionately exposed to environmental harms
  and risks that can lead to lead poisoning, asthma
  and exposure to air toxics. There is a need to
  educate and empower residents living in
  low-income areas within Hillsborough County.
  Consequently, Activist For Environmental Justice
  (AFEJ), a Florida non-profit corporation was
  formed. We will educate residents and enable
  them to develop proactive and strategic
  approaches to address environmental justice
  issues, and to achieve community health and
  longevity.

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Problems in the low income communities

• Children living in older housing units.
• Cheap jewelry with lead.
• Toys with lead paint.

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Research of lead poisoning

• Hillsborough county has reported over 43 reported
  victims this year.
• Mary Shedden of The Tampa Tribune wrote an
  article on June 24, 2007 titled Toxic Trinkets.
• Soldier Bear Toy sets were recalled by the U.S.
  Consumer Product Commission July 18, 2007.

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What is Lead Poisoning?

• A neurotoxin metallic element absorbed in the
  lungs and stomach.
• Too much lead accumulating in the body.
• Blood lead levels of 10 micrograms per deciliter

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Who is most susceptible to lead poison?

• Pregnant women
• Children 6 Months to 6 years old.

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Historical background

• Lead paint banned in the late 1970s
• Massachusetts passed a law in 1990 requiring
  mandatory yearly screening of children. Florida
  has not passed any such law.

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What are the historical effects of lead
poisoning?

• Damage to brain and nervous system.
• Behavior and learning problems.
• Lowered I.Q.
• Attention Deficit Disorder.
• Violent or Aggressive behavior
• Death

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Other groups addressing this problem

• Hillsborough county Health Dept. are doing
• workshops at PTA meetings.
• Senators are introducing legislation to make all
  child care facilities lead safe.
• EPA proposes mandatory lead-safety training in
  the school system.
• Cynthia Keeton helps people rehabbing older homes
  showing them how to contain lead infected areas.

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How will AFEJ help to eradicate lead poisoning?

• Educating the public on the dangers.
• Push for a law requiring yearly universal
  screenings for lead poisoning.

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Field Research - Survey

• Does your child live in a home built before 1978?
  
• Yes 70 No - 18 Not Sure - 12
• 2. Was your childs school built before 1978?
• Yes - 56 No - 10 Not Sure - 34
• 3. Does your child wear jewelry from the Dollar
  General or the vending machines?
• Yes - 82 No - 14 Not Sure - 4
  
• 4. Does any person in the home work with lead?
• Yes - 40 No - 56 Not Sure-
  4
• 5. Do you live near an industry that uses lead
  products?
• Yes - 58 No - 24 Not Sure -
  18
• 6. Does your child eat soil, paint, toys, or
  other non-food items?
• Yes - 44 No - 36 Not Sure -
  20
• 7. Does your child have learning or behavior
  problems?
• Yes - 54 No - 46 Not Sure
  -
• 8. Is your child anemic?
• Yes - 60 No - 32 Not Sure - 8
• Did you answer YES? Ask your childs doctor to
  screen him/her for lead poisoning.

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Chart of Survey Results
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Explanation of Results

• The people that answered yes to the questions
  should have their children screened for lead
  their blood.
• Anyone answering not Sure is asked to make
  sure it is either Yes or no.
• This survey shows that there is a need to educate
  residents of the dangerous toxins in their
  environment.
• The survey shows the need for AFEJ,INC to be
  formed

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What are solutions AFEJINC will use to prevent
lead poisoning?

• Propose a law for Lead screening for all
  children.
• Work to make Real Estate professionals aware of
  the effects of lead poisoning.
• Pass out lead testing kits to the community.
• Empower residents of the dangers of peeling paint
  in their homes.
• Reach out to the community in their block
  association meetings and do a workshop on making
  your home lead safe.
• Choose lead free housing.
• Wash your child hands often.
• Feed your child healthy foods.

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Supporters of a lead free environment

• Cynthia O. Keeton of the Hillsborough Health
  dept.
• EPA
• Pastor Malcolm Burleigh Living Faith Assembly
• Senator Obama and Rep. Slaughter

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Programs

• Presenting workshop at the down
• payment assistance classes.
• Go door to door and giving out lead testing kits.
• Recruiting volunteers to pass out brochures in
  the community.

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Achieving Recognition

• 1. Local Television and Radio PSAs.
• 2. Newspaper articles in
• Florida Sentinel Newspaper
• Tampa Tribune
• St Petersburg Times
• 3. Meeting with Local PTA and Civic
  organizations.

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Summary

• Need for community education on lead based
  issues.
• Increased awareness may lead to lower incidence
  of labeling our young children
• Support of this subject comes from
• Local PTAs
• Local civic organizations.
• Local religious leaders