Document rXGML4jq3oMQ2njL9x1Z8JRe

1 ; CITY AND SUBURBS ' Lead Peril in Streets? 2 By DIAXE BROCKETT SUr-Newi Staff Writer been found in the hospital's routine screening program to Washington area youngsters have "elevated blood lead lev $: who play along busy streets k els" but "no history of eating may face the same potential peeling paint and plaster." hazard from lead poisoning as EPA has held that 2,500 those who live in homes paint parts of lead per 1 million ed with metal-based paint, a parts of dirt can be a signifi scientist has warned. cant level in terms of chil S It Recent tests by the Center dren's health. Fritsch con for Science in the Public Inter tends that because lead poison ;u est have shown that dust along many city and suburban streets here contain heavy concentrations of lead, accord A ing to Dr. Albert J. Fritsch, director of the nonprofit re k search group. % - Children who eat dirt or who put things in their mouths % after dropping them in the dirt could be ingesting dangerous amounts of lead, he said, es pecially if they play in con \ gested areas. The tests were done by the center in preparation for testi I mony before the federal En vironmental Protection Agency which is considering regula tions requiring the elimination of lead from gasoline. Most, although not all, of the lead in the streets is from car ex hausts, Fritsch said. ing is cumulative, any source can add to danger. The center's tests were done on an x-ray fluorescence spec troscopy, a device originally developed to test moon rocks. The readings were taken after the heavy rains earlier this summer so they may be some what lower than normal^ Fritsch said. BRAIN DAMAGE to inner- city children resulting from eating lead-based paint has been a concern of health offi cials for seme time. The substantial amounts of lead in dust along streets not only increases the danger of lead poisoning to District chil dren but helps to spread it to the suburbs, Fritsch said. Readings in Northern Vir ginia and Montgomery County showed substantial lead levels but not as high as in parts of the District. Dr. Bonnie J. Peacock, of D.C.'s Children's Hospital, re ports that many children have LIA-76305