Sens. Ossoff and Warnock take action to protect children in the English Avenue neighborhood of Atlanta from potential lead exposure, which causes serious health and developmental problems
In 2019, with a population of just 3,558 residents, up to 2,000 residential properties in the community may have lead soil contamination
According to the World Health Organization, children absorb four to five times as much lead as adults
Washington, D.C. – US Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock are allocating new resources to protect Georgia children and families from lead poisoning through the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
Sens. Ossoff and Warnock are taking action after hearing concerns about lead contamination in the English Avenue neighborhood of Atlanta, an area that has been plagued by soil lead contamination due to construction and other industrial projects for years.
The two senators worked with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to send new resources to the area under the bipartisan infrastructure bill that will help clean up contaminated soil on family property and elsewhere in the community, especially in places where children often play.
“It’s all about children’s health” said Senator Ossoff. “Senator Warnock and I are conducting this historic public health and environmental cleanup effort for Atlanta’s Westside. I thank President Biden, Administrator Regan, and Southeast Regional Administrator Blackman for their support. No family in Georgia should live in fear of lead contamination.”
“Thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the Westside Lead project will ensure the EPA can accelerate the removal of lead from people’s property.” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “As the voice of Georgia in the Senate, I am committed to environmental justice and am so proud that these funds will go towards this important project in our state that will promote better health, a cleaner environment and better outcomes for hard-working Georgians.”
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as many as 2,000 properties in Westside could have soil contaminated with lead — particularly concerning for a community where many families grow food on their own property.
The new resources will allow EPA to investigate the history of lead contamination in the community and help protect children from future exposure to the harmful metal. Any exposure to lead is considered dangerous and can seriously damage the developing brains of children.
According to the World Health Organization, young children are most at risk of possible lead poisoning and can absorb up to four to five times more lead into their bodies than adults. This can lead to long-term health problems such as decreased intelligence, reduced focus or self-control, and anemia.
Working with the EPA, Sens. Ossoff and Warnock will deliver the new bipartisan-backed resources to the Westside Lead Superfund site to lead the cleanup and contamination cleanup.
