INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Lead poisoning is a serious health concern especially for people who live in neighborhoods with older homes. Lead can come from water, but, for most affected Hoosiers, the biggest risk factor is lead-based dust from chipped paint. That exposure puts children younger th an 6 at risk. The Martindale-Brightwood library branch and other branches of the Indianapolis Public Library have free lead screening kits available to test for dust and possible lead exposure. Jocelyn Keranen, director of environmental health and operations at the Hoosier Environmental Council, said, “Lead is more likely to get into the brain and cause developmental issues, which can later have an impact on literacy rates, and it has even been linked to aggravated assault rates as children age.” According to Indiana Lead Free, 57% of homes in Indiana are built before 1980. The Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood is in a “promise zone,” a high-poverty and high-capacity community where the federal government works with local leaders. About 90% of the homes in a “promise zone” were built before 1980 and have a greater risk. “A lot of people think of this as a 1970s issue, so neighborhoods like that or other neighborhoods across the state that are older are target areas for us to reach out and talk to families about the importance of getting their children tested for lead, but also getting their houses tested for lead,” Keranen said. Keranen encourages people to take advantage of local initiatives for lead testing and assessments, but there are some short-term ways to alleviated the lead risk. “Cleaning is the best step you can take. When you’re dusting you don’t want to be dry dusting, you want to be wet dusting.” ...read more read less