THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE JAMAICA Environment Trust is deeply concerned about recent reports of lead poisoning in Jamaican children. This is not a new problem; in fact, on May 30, 1994 your newspaper reported that an average of 10 children suffering from lead poisoning were admitted to the Bustamante Hospital for Children annually. The problems of lead contamination of soil both from natural sources and illegal backyard battery smelting operations are also very long-standing.
The effects of lead poisoning are serious and include damage to the brain and central nervous system, delayed growth and learning impairment. Research has also shown social effects, such as increased levels of violence in those exposed to lead. Poor children are especially affected by lead poisoning they are more likely to be exposed to lead sources and are more susceptible to ill-effects than adults.
Our environmental and public health agencies have a responsibility not only to respond to existing cases of lead poisoning, but to implement programmes to monitor and reduce lead pollution. It is possible that lead poisoning is at least partly responsible for the under-performance of our schoolchildren, and our much-lamented crime rate.
So far, the response from government agencies has been the usual piecemeal, nine-day-wonder reaction. These agencies are failing to protect those who need it most our children.
We are, etc.,
JAMAICA ENVIRONMENT TRUST
Diana McCaulay
jet@infochan.com
Chief Executive Officer
11 Waterloo Road
Kingston 10
