The free clinics will be held on April 2nd and April 3rd, noon to 8 p.m. at the Port Colborne General Hospital site, Room 20. The main way people can be exposed to this lead is through ingestion of dust. Young children are more likely to swallow soil and dust because of their tendency to put their hands and objects into their mouths. Children under 7 are also most susceptible to health problems from long-term exposure to lead. They absorb lead from their stomach and intestine more readily than others and their tissues are in a stage of rapid development.
Pregnant women are also of special concern because of the developing fetus.
Cleanup of properties with respect to lead will depend on the blood lead level screening results. The Regional Niagara Public Health Department will be working with the City of Port Colborne, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the Ministry of the Environment to review various options for clean up. In the short-term, public health inspectors and nurses will identify ways to limit lead exposure with all families.