What is Lead?

Lead can be present in dust, paint, water, and soil due to old paint, old plumbing, and past industrial exposure. No amount of lead is safe for human beings

Why is it a problem?

No amount of lead is safe. Lead poisoning can occur at low levels of exposure and can have devastating health impacts such as delayed puberty, lower IQ, and attention, behavior and learning problems.

Due the risks, lead-based paint was banned in the United States in 1978. However, many homes built before 1978 still have lead-based paint. In 1986, lead water service lines were banned. However lead pipes still exist in older homes and schools through internal plumbing

Lead in MPS

More than 85% of MPS buildings were built before 1980. MPS schools do not have lead water service lines but are likely to have internal lead plumbing and were painted with lead paint that has been deteriorating.

In January 2025, we learned that a child was lead-poisoned by an unsafe MPS building, prompting Milwaukee Health Department inspections in more buildings. Widespread and unsafe lead levels were discovered, caused by years of failures in maintenance and accountability. The Milwaukee Health Department assessments of Kagel, Trowbridge, Maryland Avenue Montessori and Golda Meir schools showed high levels of lead dust throughout the environment as well as lead in some water sources.

Inspections are ongoing district-wide.

The schools impacted by closures thus far are: Golda Meir Lower Campus, Kagel Elementary, Maryland Avenue Montessori, Trowbridge Street, Fernwood Montessori, Starms Early Childhood Center, LaFollette School, Brown Street Academy, and Westside Academy. However, inspections are ongoing. You can find more information on the MPS Website regarding the Lead Report and Lead Action Plan.

A complex Crisis

MPS receives funding from the state. Funding from the state has not kept up with inflation and the state has decreased its funding of public schools as it has forced taxpayers to pay for private voucher schools. This has directly resulted in deferred maintenance and inadequate staffing. Additionally, the internal decisions within MPS have played a role in the creation of this crisis. It will take a nuanced approach from multiple organizations to solve the problem.

Lead testing

Free lead testing for children 9 months to 10 years is being offered by the Milwaukee Health Department through Children’s Hospital at several clinics throughout Milwaukee.

What You can Do

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