Investigation: thousands of Georgia children sickened by lead

It's the single biggest environmental threat to our children: lead poisoning. An 11Alive investigation has discovered that thousands of Georgia children have dangerous levels of lead in their blood. This is Part I in Valerie Hoff's special investigation.

Porterdale, Georgia is a small textile mill town, full of old houses, on quiet streets. It was here, at 27 Hazel Street, where Amy Smith says her daughter Tyasia tested positive for lead poisoning in 2007.

"I took her for a checkup and they tested her for lead. And they called me and asked me, 'Did you know lead was in the house?' And I said, 'No.'"

A county environmental investigation revealed Tyasia’s lead levels were dangerously high at more than five times what the CDC labels cause for concern. The most likely cause was deteriorating lead-based paint throughout the house.

The family’s lawsuit accuses landlord Bobby Chupp of refusing to repair the house even after county investigators recommended he do so. Now, they say Tyasia has permanent brain damage.

Watch the full story on 11Alive News tonight at 11 p.m.

"She has severe neurological deficits that will persist for the rest of her life," attorney Jonathan Johnson said. "She will always have difficulty with certain types of activities, including reading and communication and mathematics. Basically, the assessment was she would never really be able to live independently for the rest of her life."

The family has since moved. But back on Hazel street, another family with young children is renting the same house, where chipped and peeling paint remain visible.

Rashundra Smith says the same landlord, Bobby Chupp asked her to sign a waiver.

"It came along with my leasing agreement that the house had some lead paint from back in the day, I guess. And he said he hadn’t had any complaints about it, and I signed the paper about being aware of the lead paint and that’s about it," Smith told 11Alive's Valerie Hoff.

Her children are four and six. Documents obtained by 11 Alive News indicate health investigators advised against renting the property to families with children until the lead paint hazards are mitigated, but Smith says she doesn’t have much of a choice.

"My kids haven’t got sick, and it's not like I can just pick up and move tomorrow. If I was financially where I could move, then I wouldn’t be here anyways," she said.

11Alive tried to contact Mr. Chupp by phone and in person, without success.

Environmental experts say homes built before 1978 are more likely to contain lead-based paint, which was outlawed that same year. Lead poisoning is more common in low-income children who live in older housing.

Just around the corner from Hazel Street, another Porterdale mom recently got similar bad news from her family doctor: her son Jeremiah is a victim of lead poisoning.

"She called and said, 'Your son, they did some bloodwork on him and they saw a little lead, but they’re not sure how much.' So they want us to take him to the doctor, to the hospital so they can find out," Vanessa Bennett said.

"When they tell you your child has lead in his system, how concerned are you about that.?" Hoff asked.

"I mean, yeah, I’m very concerned. I looked it up to see what they were talking about, " Bennett said. "I won’t know till I take him to the doctor and see."

Others shrug off the potential danger.

"I’m happy to have a home," Jackie Lynn Mitchell said. "I was homeless for 3 years. I’m more worried about the steps caving in. I have grown up hearing about the lead and stuff in the house, but I've lived here my whole life and never had a problem."

State Health Officials say last year alone, more than 2500 Georgia Children tested positive for lead poisoning. The counties most at risk are Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett. Georgia Poison Center’s Medical Director says a simple blood test will tell you if your child is at risk.

"If your house has older paint that is flaking off the wall, your child should be tested and you should have your home tested, your paint tested," he said. "If your paint has lead it should be covered over or removed and replaced in a safe manner."

Coming up in Tuesday night's investigation: Georgia Health officials are required to test all children on Medicaid for lead at 12 months and 24 months. It's not happening, and 11Alive is Holding the Powerful Accountable on why. Watch Tuesday night at 11:00 pm.

LEAD RESOURCES | For more information about checking your home for lead, including how to get a free test kit, check our 11Alive.com resource page.