ESNDC Leadsafe Program

06/22/2026

Did you know your home could have lead pipes and you might not even know it?

Minnesota is working to replace ALL lead service lines statewide — and there is NO safe level of lead, especially for our kids.

Here's what you can do right now:
Check if your home has a lead service line
Get free blood lead testing for your children
Run cold water 3–5 minutes before drinking or cooking

Learn more here and check your address:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/lslrprogram.html

06/19/2026

🎉 Happy Juneteenth 2026! Honoring freedom, history, and progress — today and every day. 💛❤️💚

06/16/2026

East Side neighbors showed up and spoke up. Residents gathered with Mayor Kaohly Her to share their concerns about Northern Iron's pollution — dirty windows, kids with asthma, and a neighborhood tired of waiting for answers.

Read the full story here:

https://sahanjournal.com/climate-environment/mayor-kaohly-her-east-side-residents-northern-iron-foundry/

Residents of St. Paul’s East Side want Mayor Kaohly Her to side with them in a fight with the Northern Iron metal foundry over pollution.

06/08/2026

🧠 New research reveals a startling connection between lifelong lead exposure and dementia — and the findings are hard to ignore.

A recent study from the University of Michigan School of Public Health found that people with the highest levels of lead stored in their bones had nearly 3x the risk of Alzheimer's disease and more than double the risk of all-cause dementia compared to those with the lowest levels.

Here's what makes this even more concerning:

📌 Lead accumulates in bones over a lifetime — meaning exposure from decades ago could still be affecting brain health today
📌 Up to 18% of new dementia cases in the U.S. each year may be linked to cumulative lead exposure
📌 Prenatal lead exposure has also been linked to lower cognitive performance later in life, particularly in women
📌 Legacy sources like older housing, aging pipes, and contaminated soil continue to expose communities to this risk

The good news? Researchers say reducing lead exposure at the population level could prevent a significant portion of future dementia cases.

This is why ongoing efforts to remove lead pipes, update infrastructure, and protect vulnerable communities matter — not just for today, but for brain health decades from now.

Read more here: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/lifetime-lead-exposure-may-harm-brain-health

As cases of dementia continue to climb worldwide, uncovering modifiable risk factors remains a major public health priority. Recent research highlights the potential role of lead exposure on both dementia risk and links to lower cognitive performances.

06/05/2026

Come celebrate Play on Payne

The summer-long outdoor activation aims to drive daily activity along the Payne Avenue corridor and support businesses impacted by the immigration enforcement effort.

06/03/2026

Did you know that lead and other toxic metals can be found in the baby food sitting on store shelves right now?

Lead exposure in infants and young children can cause serious, lifelong harm — including damage to the brain and nervous system, developmental delays, learning and behavior problems, hearing and speech issues, and more.

And here's the sobering truth: there is no safe level of lead exposure for children.

Michigan lawmakers are now working to change that, pushing for mandatory testing of baby food products for toxic materials like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury — and requiring manufacturers to make those results publicly available.

As parents and caregivers, we deserve to know exactly what's in the food we're giving our children. Stay informed. Ask questions. Advocate for change.

Read more here: https://michiganadvance.com/2026/05/21/lawmakers-lay-out-policies-to-ban-lead-in-baby-food-set-stricter-standards-for-lead-exposure/

As Michigan works to test children for exposure to lead, the House Health Policy Committee on Wednesday took a look at a trio of policies intended to further limit exposure and provide treatment, while updating the state’s definition for elevated lead levels in blood.

06/01/2026

As temperatures rise, so does the risk of lead exposure for children and parents should know why.

According to Cleveland Clinic pediatrician Dr. Roopa Thakur, summer activities like home renovations can stir up lead dust indoors. Opening windows creates friction on older lead paint around windowsills and door frames, causing it to deteriorate and spread harmful particles.

Key facts every parent should know:
📌 Children under age 6 are at the greatest risk
📌 Lead poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage, developmental delays, and behavioral problems
📌 Homes built before 1978 are most likely to contain lead-based paint
📌 Lead can be found in soil up to 10 feet from a home with deteriorating lead paint
📌 Children with lead poisoning often show NO symptoms — testing is critical

If you notice chipping paint, clean with a damp cloth and safely cover or repaint the area. Talk to your pediatrician about whether your child should be tested.

Stay informed. Protect your kids this summer.

Read here for more information: https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2026/05/19/why-warmer-months-raise-lead-exposure-risk-for-kids

A pediatrician explains why children face a higher risk of lead exposure during the warmer months and how parents can help protect them.

05/29/2026

🌍 The World Health Organization has introduced its new PREVENT technical package — a major step forward in the global fight against lead poisoning.

The numbers are staggering:
📌 3.5 million cardiovascular-related deaths are linked to lead poisoning every year
📌 Up to 815 million children — 1 in 3 globally — are affected
📌 The impacts include lowered cognitive functioning, reduced educational attainment, and decreased lifetime income

This initiative, co-organized with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Resolve to Save Lives, aims to give countries and health leaders the tools they need to take meaningful action.

Lead poisoning is preventable. Awareness is the first step.

Check out the article here: https://www.who.int/news/item/18-05-2026-who-introduces-prevent-technical-package-to-address-lead-poisoning

As of 31 May 2020, 75 countries have confirmed they have legally binding controls to limit the production, import and sale of lead paints, which is 39% of all countries.

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 This Memorial Day, we honor those who fought to protect us — and we're committed to protecting YOUR family right here at home.

For the families of St. Paul's East Side, one of the biggest hidden dangers isn't outside — it's inside your walls.

🚨 Did you know? 6 of the 40 Minnesota census tracts designated as lead hot spots are right here on the East Side. If your home was built before 1978, lead-based paint could be putting your children at risk — right now.

No amount of lead is safe for children. None.

That's why ESNDC's Lead Safe Minnesota program exists — and the best part? It's completely FREE.

Whether you're a renter, homeowner, or residential property owner — we have a program for you.

This holiday weekend, give your family the gift of a safer home. One call could protect your child's health, development, and future. 💚

📞 Call us: 651-288-8751
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Learn more: esndc.org/safe-minnesota

05/22/2026

This is why our work matters. 💚

A Saint Paul family came to us after their 12-month-old tested positive for lead — and their landlord's response was to hand them a putty knife and ask them to scrape the paint themselves. An ESNDC Health Educator stepped in, stopped the unsafe work, and connected the family to the support they needed.

Through free in-home assessments, lead safety education, and our SWAB program — which provides up to $1,575 in free work by a certified lead contractor — ESNDC helped this family get their home safe. Four months after the SWAB was completed, their son's lead level dropped from a 16 back to an 8.

If you or someone you know is dealing with lead hazards at home, we're here to help. Our services are free, professional, and confidential.

📩 Contact Marsha at [email protected]