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Crime of the Century: Our Tragic Failure to Prevent the Lead Pandemic

Thursday, April 21, 2016
12:00-1:00 PM
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
25 East Pearson Street
Room 1103
Chicago, IL 60611 

Lead toxicity in children, which costs the U.S. $50 billion each year, is a major risk factor for IQ deficits, ADHD and violent crimes, yet its contribution to these preventable tragedies is largely ignored.  Internationally renowned lead expert, Dr. Bruce Lanphear, will discuss the toxic legacy of lead poisoning, the history of #LeadEpidemic, and how we can address the tragedy.

Over the past century, and despite early warnings about lead toxicity, the use of lead increased sharply; immense wealth was accumulated at the expense of public health. During the peak of the lead pandemic, in the 1960s, hundreds of children in U.S. cities developed overt lead poisoning; 1 in 3 died. The full scope of the lead pandemic is still unfolding. 

Dr. Bruce Lanphear, MD, MPH, is a Clinician Scientist at the Child & Family Research Institute, BC Children’s Hospital and Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia.  His primary goal is to help quantify and ultimately prevent disease and disability - like asthma, learning problems and ADHD - due to toxic chemicals and pollutants. Over the past decade, Dr. Lanphear has become increasingly vexed by our inability to control the “pandemic of consumption” – the largely preventable, worldwide epidemic of chronic disease and disability due to industrial pollutants, toxic chemicals and excess consumption. He is leading an effort to produce videos to enhance public understanding of how environmental influences impact human health.

This event is free and open to the public.

Please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/d/il--chicago/lead-pandemic/?mode=search