BULGARIAN DOCTOR Mitco Vutchkov and the Kiwanis Club of New Kingston will conduct lead poisoning tests at the Kintyre Basic School in St. Andrew today.
Michelle Walker, of the Kiwanis Club, says children aged three to six will be examined to see if their eyesight, hearing and blood have been affected by the mining of lead in the community several years ago.
Dr. Vutchkov has been doing tests in the area since 1995, the last taking place in 2001. He is a member of the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS).
Lead poisoning can affect human beings from the womb. It can cause brain damage, anaemia and prevent growth development.
The testing is scheduled to take place from 10 this morning.
Last year ICENS Director General, Professor Gerald Lalor, described the state of lead poisoning in Jamaica as "bad". At the time it was reported that 54 children under six years of age had been diagnosed with lead poisoning and some had to be hospitalised.
