By K. Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – US Senator Kit Bond of Missouri says the city of St. Louis will receive an additional $2 million in federal funds this year to prevent lead poisoning and he's vowing to secure another $15-million over the next three years.
The funding will be used to screen pregnant women, inspect homes and for lead abatement and cleaning kits for families.
St. Louis Lead Prevention Coalition executive director Judy Riehl says a major goal is to make lead abatement more affordable.
Lead is known to cause a variety of developmental disorders. St. Louis' rate of lead poisoning among children six years old and younger is seven times the national average.