SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC News) – Carla Mason has been working with the city of Syracuse for four years to remove lead from her home. Despite this, city inspectors recently told her the lead levels in her home have gone up since work began.
The biggest issue: funding. Work has stopped on the home for a while now, and the methods contractors used have caused lead paint from the window sills in her bathroom to seep into the walls and ceiling. she said.
“We’ve been going through this since 2019,” Mason said. ” They just keep painting over it.”
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Cracking painted-over windows leave lead paint chips and dust, which are extremely toxic.
© 2022 Carla Mason -
Water damage and cracking paint in Carla Mason's bathroom exposes lead paint that was painted over that has seeped into the ceiling.
© 2022 Carla Mason -
New paint cracking over her walls leaves lead exposed in Carla Mason's bathroom.
© 2022 Carla Mason -
Water damage in Carla Mason's bathroom exposes lead paint to the surface.
© 2022 Carla Mason
Mason’s home is not the only area home to have lead paint covered up, according to Syracuse University Professor Sandra Lane. Lane said this can actually cause more problems than it solves because when the new paint chips off, lead dust will fill the air.
“If the child gets the equivalent of one or two or three grains of sugar of paint dust from a window sill, it’s enough to poison the child,” Lane explained. “The window sills need to be fixed. Right now the city is going in and painting over them.”
Lead poisoning is not a new issue for county residents. Almost 5% of children in Onondaga County and more than 10% of Syracuse children in 2021 tested positive for elevated blood lead levels, according to the Onondaga County Health Department. Those numbers are on the rise from 2020, as well.
Concerns over the rising positive tests in children were part of the reason for the $5 million dollar allocation to lead programming in the county budget that goes into effect next year. County Legislator Julie Abbott praised the funding as a sign that legislators are listening to their community.
“I’m very proud of what we do here at the county because clearly, this budget shows that we hear you,” said Abbot, at the budget approval meeting. “Five million dollars for lead abatement… we’re talking about money for kids.”
Lane and Mason object to the idea that they are heard, though. Mason said she has relied on other organizations, such as the Syracuse Tenants Union, to fight to fix her home. Lane said her biggest issue is the difference in funding for lead abatement and the new aquarium project.
“$85 million for fish, and only $5 million for children’s brains,” Lane said. “I’m fed up.”
