End Lead Poisoning

18/06/2026

Lead exposure is preventable and the people we elect decide how seriously New York treats it. Ahead of the June 23 Democratic Primary, here are four candidates with strong records and commitments on childhood lead poisoning prevention:

Jon Rivera — State Senate, D61 (Buffalo)
Illapa Sairitupac — Assembly, D65 (Lower Manhattan)
Yuh-Line Niou — State Senate, D27 (Lower Manhattan)
Ryder Kessler — Assembly, D66 (West Village)

Swipe through to see where each one stands ➡️🗓️ Vote by June 23 — early voting runs June 13–21.

Confirm your district and poll site at vote.nyc or elections.ny.gov before you go. Your districts may differ by address, so double-check your ballot. Three minutes of planning your vote can help protect thousands of NY kids from lead!

18/06/2026

New York has an estimated 500,000 lead service lines that must be replaced by 2037 — and many municipalities say they’re already falling behind.

For NYC families, this is a reminder that aging infrastructure is still a public health issue. Safe water can’t depend on ZIP code, funding delays, or how quickly local governments can navigate red tape.

Infrastructure is public health. And when it comes to these critical systems, lead prevention needs urgency that match the scale of the problem.

https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/new-york-struggles-to-meet-deadline-lead-removal-22082169.php

Municipalities statewide face a looming 2037 federal deadline to replace all lead-contaminated water lines, a process complicated by funding and bandwidth.

08/06/2026

New York’s Assembly has passed legislation requiring stronger lead disclosure during home sales — aimed at helping families identify hazards before they move in.

Too many families discover lead hazards only after settling in. Policies like this move prevention earlier, where it belongs.

In a city with aging housing stock like NYC, this transparency is essential.

We need protective measures in place, to protect our families and communities.

https://www.post-journal.com/news/top-stories/2026/03/assembly-passes-lead-disclosure-in-home-sales/

A state lawmaker wants to increase the transparency on lead contaminants for homebuyers, particularly those who are buying an older home. The state Assembly recently passed A.1529A by a 99-43 vote after passing the bill in the final days of the 2025 state legislative session by a 106-40 vote. Assemb...

06/06/2026

This past week, Shannon Burkett attended the Second Annual Research Conference on Global Lead Exposure in London, co-hosted by the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future and the Center for Global Development.

The two-day event brought together researchers, policymakers, and funders from around the world to share evidence, insights, and strategies for combating global lead poisoning, a critical public health issue impacting millions worldwide.

We’re so grateful to be part of these important conversations, and to continue learning alongside global leaders working toward a lead-free future!

05/06/2026

What happens after a child is diagnosed with lead poisoning?

In this clip from Lead Talks, Breana Hargrave explains the reality many families face after exposure and why intervention, emotional support, and individualized care can make such a profound difference for children as they grow.

Through Buffalo’s Lead 716 program, children receive one-on-one support focused on speech, emotional regulation, learning, and social development, helping them build tools that many families struggle to access elsewhere.

Watch the full episode at the link in our bio.

04/06/2026

In this clip from Lead Talks, Breana Hargrave shares her personal experience with the long-term effects of childhood lead exposure and how that experience now fuels her work helping children and families in Buffalo.

Watch the full episode at the link in our bio.

02/06/2026

Lead poisoning does not end when the exposure ends.

In this episode of Lead Talks, Shannon sits down with Breana Hargrave, coordinator of Lead 716, a Buffalo-based program providing free one-on-one tutoring and support for preschoolers impacted by lead poisoning.

Breana is also a survivor of childhood lead poisoning herself.

Together, they discuss the emotional and behavioral effects that can follow children for years, the importance of early intervention, and the isolation many families feel navigating a diagnosis that few people openly talk about.

27/05/2026

Michigan lawmakers are pushing new legislation that would require baby food manufacturers to test for lead and other toxic metals — and make those results publicly available to families.

As NYC continues to work to address lead in our housing and water infrastructure, this is an important reminder that exposure can also come from everyday products families trust most.

Because when it comes to children and lead exposure, there is no safe level. Lead prevention has to happen everywhere that children live, eat, and grow.

As Michigan works to test children for exposure to lead, the House Health Policy Committee on Wednesday took a look at a trio of policies intended to further limit exposure and provide treatment, while updating the state’s definition for elevated lead levels in blood.

21/05/2026

Seven children were recently poisoned by lead while living in unsafe rental housing in Syracuse. Investigators found deteriorating lead paint and repeated failures to address hazards in multiple properties.

Lead poisoning does not happen by chance. It happens when unsafe housing conditions are ignored.

Across the United States, millions of homes built before 1978 still contain lead paint, putting children at risk when those hazards are not properly managed.

Preventing exposure means enforcing standards and addressing hazards before families are put at risk.

An investigation found father and son landlords Brian and Harry Murphy repeatedly failed to remediate nearly two dozen of properties, exposing children to high levels of lead.

19/05/2026

We went to Albany to meet directly with lawmakers about one of the most urgent and preventable environmental health crises facing New Yorkers: lead exposure.

Over the course of the day, we spoke with 52 legislators about the Lead Pipes Replacement Act and the Lead Paint Replacement Act, two critical bills aimed at reducing exposure to lead in our homes, schools, and water systems.

Lead poisoning is preventable. But prevention only happens when policy turns into action.