MILWAUKEE — Hundreds of children in Milwaukee are living with high levels of lead in their blood, specifically on the city's south side.
One of the high density areas of kids under six with high lead levels is in the 53204 zip code, but local organizations are making an effort to help these kids.
As a mom, Hymie Davis hurts, knowing her five-year-old son has lead poisoning.
"I feel bad. I feel like I'm not doing my job right,” Davis said.
Two years ago a test showed he had more than twice the threshold of five micrograms, so the Sixteenth Street Clinic intervened.
Through a partnership with Milwaukee’s Health Department and the Social Development Commission, the clinic provides free blood testing for children under six, and helps with aftercare.
Friday afternoon TODAY’S TMJ4 tagged along with Program Coordinator Carmen Reinmund as she followed-up with Davis. It’s her job to check in on moms like her.
"We are providing education and prevention for these children,” Reinmund said.
Reinmund found exposed water laterals and a water filter that wasn’t working properly.
"You see that? This is what's coming out of the pipes,” Reinmund said to Davis, showing her a part of a faucet containing pieces of lead. "I don't want you to use this water for cooking or drinking or making coffee because remember this is going to contribute to the lead levels that the baby has."
Lead was also in the varnish on a table.
"We want to make sure that we cover this table,” Reinmund said.
Davis is grateful for the help.
Her son still faces high levels of lead as do other children under six on Milwaukee’s near south side. According to the Sixteenth Street Clinic, in 1997, they found 32 percent had high lead levels. It dropped to six percent by summer of 2018, but the problem still exists.
Milwaukee Home Environment Health Manager Ofelia Mondragon said the work isn’t over and that the organizations need to continue to join together and be more proactive.
“There is no safe level of lead,” Mondragon said.
It’s a message Davis wants to send to other families as she tries her best to reduce exposure for her son.
"I can either help to get that problem down and to resolve it, or I don't know, I'm just going to have to move out of here,” Davis said.
It's not easy to detect lead poisoning. If you have any reason to believe your child has been exposed make sure to get them tested. The Sixteenth Street Clinic provides free blood testing for elevated lead levels for all children under six.
