Lead Poisoning Still the #1 Health Care Cost for Children in U.S.
Lead poisoning is still the number one health care cost for children in the U.S., costing “$50.9 billion a year” according to new research by senior scientists at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
In 2008, it cost a “staggering $76.6 billion to cover the health expenses of American children who were sick because of exposure to toxic chemicals and air pollutants. Now, more than ever, efforts to curb the use of toxic chemicals are necessary to reduce health hazards and health care costs for children.
“New policy mandates are necessary to reduce the burden of disease associated with environmental toxins,” said Leonardo Trasande, MD, associate professor of preventive medicine and pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. “The prevalence of chronic childhood conditions and costs associated with them many continue to rise if this issue is not addressed.”
Read the full article here: Environmental Illness in U.S. Kids Cost $76.6 Billion in One Year.