Lead contamination

The Times-Picayune published a story on lead contamination that was the product of years of good hard work by Howard Mielke, Chris Gonzalez, and others, at the Xavier University.

"My little boy had lead poisoning since he was 2. He's turning 7 this year," said Harvey, 24. "And my little girl, she had it since she was 1. She makes 3 this month. I've been taking them to Charity for tests, but they don't have Charity no more." ...

Lead levels in the 14 neighborhoods ... ranged from just above the health risk threshold of 400 parts per million, to a Central City neighborhood around the intersection of Magnolia and First streets that showed lead as high as 3,960 parts per million.