In 1991, Faubourg St. John neighbor Dr. Howard Mielke was interviewed about lead levels in the soil around residential homes. The City of New Orleans is testing public playgrounds and found high lead levels in Desmare Playground. The area is being remediated.

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, “Exposure to lead can have a wide range of effects on a child’s development and behavior. Even when exposed to small amounts of lead levels, children may appear inattentive, hyperactive and irritable. Children with greater lead levels may also have problems with learning and reading, delayed growth and hearing loss. At high levels, lead can cause permanent brain damage and even death.” Please visit the links below for more information:
http://www.agiweb.org/geotimes/may05/feature_leadlegacy.html
http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/lead_exposure_in_children_affects_brain_and_behavior