February 13, 2025
Lead exposure is often thought of as a problem that doesn’t exist anymore in the United States, since lead paint (above a certain amount) was banned for residential use in 1978 and leaded gasoline was taken off the market in 1996. Yet, lead is still present in many homes across the country, as well as in other structures, environmental media, and products that can result in exposure. These exposures may cause irreparable harm to people, particularly children. One of the challenges in addressing and preventing these harms is the persistence of mis- and disinformation about lead and policies aimed at protecting communities from lead exposure.
Research and public health experts have observed what some have deemed an “infodemic” of health misinformation—and disinformation—in recent decades. This was particularly highlighted in the context of SARS in the early 2000s and COVID-19 in recent years. However, these challenges reach far beyond such pandemics. According to the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, “Health misinformation is a serious threat to public health. It can cause confusion, sow mistrust, harm people’s health, and undermine public health efforts.”
This threat includes public health impacts related to lead exposure. Public health officials and others regularly encounter disinformation and misinformation when dealing with people exposed to lead and children with elevated blood lead levels. This dis/misinformation forms a barrier to individuals in seeking remediation for the underlying source or healthcare services for those exposed and results in harmful impacts to families and communities.
This policy paper will explain disinformation and misinformation, discuss the impact they have on lead poisoning prevention, detection, and abatement, and outline strategies that local practitioners are employing to address it.
