11 month old poisoned by lead in Jasper home; no remediation yet (videos at end)
An 11 month-old child was found to have elevated blood levels of lead in July of this year.
The investigation began when Tri-Cap was called to assist with a broken air conditioner at 312 Third Ave. in Jasper. The representative from Tri-Cap took a portable air conditioning unit to the house and attempted to diagnose the problem with the home’s air conditioner.
A contractor was also called to the residence to check the air conditioner and while in the home the contractor informed the Tri-Cap representative that he had noticed a large amount of paint chips around the air conditioner during a previous repair.
The resident had cleaned up the paint chips due to the potential for lead exposure, but additional indicators – more paint chips, varnish chips, older windows, and the age of the house (pre-1978) as well as some physical symptoms on the 11 month old child – prompted the representative to suggest the child be tested for lead poisoning.
The child was tested at Memorial Hospital and according to the County Health Department the child’s blood lead level was 9.8 micrograms/deciliter of blood. The Centers for Disease Control and the State of Indiana consider a level of 10 micrograms/deciliter to be elevated in a child under the age of six.
The elevated level prompted Tri-Cap to report the exposure to the Indiana State Health Department and the State Health Department inspected the residence sometime in August.
The lead levels in the home were high enough that a Risk Assessment and 90 day notice was sent to the homeowner in September; unfortunately the state sent the Risk Assessment and 90 day notice to the wrong group; Welsh Realty. Welsh Realty does own the adjacent office building and the lot behind the home but the lead contaminated home belongs to Stanley and Brenda K. Vaal.
“When I started reading through this 26 page document all I saw was lead contamination and my heart started racing.” Andy Welsh said.
Welsh’s concerns then became confusion when the report stated the inspection had been done on August 24 and included bedrooms at the home.
“I thought when did they have access to our building on the 24th (August) and, of course, we don’t have bedrooms in our office building. Then I realized it was the residence next door.”
Realizing the mistake on the State report, Welsh met with Gail Gramelspacher, the County Assessor, and contacted the State Health Department with the correct homeowner’s information.
“That’s the last I heard of the issue until Lynn Maitlen from the Dubois County Health Department contacted me today (Wednesday Dec 28, 2011) to ask what had been done to take care of the lead problem,” Welsh related, “I had to explain to her that the state had sent the document to the wrong homeowner.”
The County Health Department has not received an updated notification concerning the actual homeowner but County Director of Nurses Lynn Maitlen followed up with the family’s doctor on Dec. 28 and learned the child and family had moved out of state.
Amanda Meyer has lived in the residence since March of 2010. She has a toddler and infant child in the home and explained the toddler had been tested for lead and was determined safe. She stated the infant will be tested soon.
Meyer’s is purchasing the home on contract from the Vaals and stated the Vaals were aware of the lead contamination now, but she also indicated they did not know how to fix the problem.
The 90 day time frame has passed and the state has the option to allow the homeowner another 90 days to fix the lead problem. They have not indicated their intentions on the matter at this time.
The Vaals have been unavailable at their listed number.
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Information from the Center for Disease Control on lead poisoning
Even at very low levels, lead can impair a young child’s cognitive function, cause behavior problems, and reduce intelligence. Recent research suggests that there is no blood lead level (BLL) that is safe for children. Currently, the Indiana Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (ICLPPP) follows CDC’s recommendation of a BLL of 10 microgram/deciliter or higher as being an elevated blood lead level (EBLL).
Lead is found in homes not only in paint chips but also as dust that coats window sills and floors. Small children can be exposed by eating lead-based paint chips, chewing on objects painted with lead-based paint, or swallowing house dust or soil that contains lead.
A child who swallows large amounts of lead may develop the following conditions:
- blood anemia
- severe stomachache
- muscle weakness
- brain damage
Even at the lower levels the child’s mental and physical growth can be adversely affected.
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Two videos from the State concerning Lead Poisoning in Indiana
Several interesting aspects on this: One, the story indicated early on that "the resident had cleaned up the paint chips due to the potential for lead exposure." Was the intention to suggest that the resident was trying to avoid detection of lead by eliminating potential tell-tale evidence, or that the resident simply cleaned things up including the paint chips to prevent exposure to the contractor?
Two, despite the still-existing hazard, the state should provide another period of time for the owner to have the problem remediated – it was their error in conjunction possibly with others in not researching the correct property owner, who never received the notice.
Last, if not already (seems like not, if a sale is in progress) there should be an ordinance in place whereby a sale of a home cannot take place, or close, until any significant, specified issues of health and safety are rectified.
Uh, hello, 9.8 micrograms/deciliter is less than 10.0. What am I missing?
Thank GOD for Tri-Cap!!!!!! Just what the hell would we do without those people?
You're missing the fact that this was a very young child – a baby – and even though the levels weren't quite to the minimum required, they were close enough given the child's age – not even close to age six – and a plus-minus error factor to consider, to warrant Tri-Caps actions. Also, your slam of Tri-Cap in such a manner to include the use of vulgar verbage was inappropriate.
This is sort of liek the asbestos debate. It would be wise for every person owning a house with paint from pre-1978m to have the paint stripped off per instructions, to protect you and the future families that live there. Someday, the government will require the paint to be removed before the selling of your house, as they do with other things. I wonder how many older business buildings in Jasper still have lead paint on the walls…
Yes, as I mentioned previously, I'm actually surprised there isn't a requirement already in place, either at a local or federal level for remediating a condition such as this, based on age and/or inspection, etc, before a sale can take place. The government – mainly the feds – seems to either go way over the top with such stuff or they completely drop the ball with the obvious and common sense. This sort of thing (lead) has been known for some time. On the other hand, maybe there are such requirements at various local levels, but not here – I don't know.
A lead disclosure statement is required when a house is sold. According to a local Realtor the fine for not filing the form is $36,000.
According to the County Nurse possibly 2% of the homes in Dubois County have lead problems.
Received an update from the State Health Department.
"We have verified that the risk assessment report has been issued to the deed holder of record per the county (Dubois) assessor’s office. And as you know, we are working on your public records request of Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011."
Thank you so much for covering this information. It isn't really something everyone thinks about everyday and it helps to have a reminder that this is very important. There are plenty of families that rent homes or buying their first home and the first thing on their mind would be just being glad they have a home Living in a home that may have an issue of lead would surely be deal breaker no matter how much you like the place.
I rented a home in Folsomville at one time and my wife and i noticed that the puppies, which we kept in the house, were acting like they were drunk. 2 died, so we placed the rest of them outside and the seemingly drunk puppies were better. We also attempted to have small birds, but they would day withing a week as well. I have never been sure what the problem was. We of course moved out. It makes me wonder if it was related to lead.