5 Michigan Cities Among USA’s 100 Worst for Lead Paint Problems
A new study indicates that five of the 100 American cities most at risk of problems with lead paint are right here in Michigan.
Why Is Lead Paint a Problem?
Lead in paint has been linked to the potential for multiple health problems, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:
When lead is absorbed into the body, it can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs, like the kidneys, nerves, and blood. Lead may also cause behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures, and in extreme cases, death.
While the consumer use of lead paint was banned in the United States after 1978, its remnants still exist beneath layers of newer paint in many American homes. As those outer layers chip away over time, it can expose the lead once again and create health problems for whomever is living there now.
How America's Most Lead Paint-Vulnerable Cities Were Determined
The home services website Paint Gnome recently named "2024's Most Lead Paint Vulnerable Cities".
The study looked at the 500 biggest cities in America and considered the number of homes in each that were built back when the use of lead paint was legal and common. It also looked at how available certified lead-based paint inspection services were in each city, along with abatement firms and several other metrics.
SEE ALSO: There's Purple Paint on a Tree or Fence in Michigan; What Does That Mean?
Michigan's Lead Paint Problem
Turns out Michigan has five of the 100 most vulnerable cities in America when it comes to problems with lead paint.
According to Paint Gnome, Lansing is the 78th most vulnerable city in America when it comes to problems with lead paint.
Grand Rapids' aging neighborhoods make it the 51st most vulnerable city in America for lead paint issues.
The 35th most vulnerable city in America for problems with lead paint is Dearborn, Michigan.
Flint is the 22nd most vulnerable city in the United States for problems with lead paint.
And... you guessed it...
Only 6 cities in America are considered more vulnerable to problems with lead paint than Detroit.
Curious what cities are in the rest of the Top 100? Check out the full list here.