The major CLEVELAND environmental health problems for families are:
In Greater Cleveland the major concern is the built environment, especially the older housing stock because many buildings are repositories
of the environmental agents mentioned above and thereby contribute to the major problems of lead intoxication and respiratory illnesses such as asthma. These environmental
influences on health generally have a greater impact on our economically limited families.
Impairment of cognitive and neurological development may result from exposure early in life to neurotoxins such as lead with the resulting sub-clinical
symptoms of lowered IQ, reduced attention span, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems including aggression.
Moreover, there have been substantial increases in childhood asthma, allergies, and respiratory problems in recent decades with good evidence that indoor air
pollutants trigger attacks in asthmatic children causing them to miss school.
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