• Children with lead poisoning are more likely to commit violent crime as adults and to get lower scores on intelligence tests.
  • Researchers found that ¾ of children tested in Kimberly, Cape Town and Johannesburg had lead poisoning. One reason is that lead paint covers homes, toys and playground equipment across parts of the country.
  • While the government has placed limits on how much lead can be added to paint, industry groups and experts say the government isn’t enforcing these laws. Additionally, healthcare workers are missing lead poisoning cases.
Children who are exposed to the toxic heavy metal, lead, are more likely to commit violent crime and to get lower scores on intelligence tests as adults. But experts and industry groups say the government isn’t doing enough to manage lead.
  • Read the full script here.
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Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.

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Jesse Copelyn is a health journalist at Bhekisisa.

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