City touts small dip in lead-poisoned kids

The city bragged about a “historic” 11% drop in childhood lead exposure last year – despite the fact that hundreds of kids living in its own public housing are still getting poisoned by the dangerous chemical.

Last year, 4,717 children who were tested registered elevated blood-lead levels, according to preliminary figures released by the Health Department on Wednesday. That’s 600 fewer than in 2017.

But the decrease was largely among children living in private housing. Among those who lived or spent time in NYCHA apartments, the city reported just 22 fewer kids under the age of 18 with elevated lead levels, from 160 in 2017 to 138 last year.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Corey Stern, a lawyer who’s suing NYCHA on behalf of dozens of leadpoisoned children. “It’s a joke. . .I wouldn’t put too much stock into their report.”

City Councilman Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) evoked President George Bush’s infamously premature speech and sign about the Iraq War.

“Now is hardly the time to declare ‘Mission Accomplished,’ ” said Torres (photo). “The city remains out of compliance when it comes to remediating lead in NYCHA units with children under the age of 6.”

Mayor de Blasio spokeswoman Olivia Lapeyrolerie shot back that Council legislation requires the city to share their lead data publicly.

“Instead of taking cheap shots, Ritchie Torres should learn more about the laws he was elected to uphold,” Lapeyrolerie said. “In the meantime, we’ll continue to drive exposure rates even lower.”

The city said 351,486 children younger than 18 were tested for lead exposure last year.

“There’s a significant number of children that we know have very likely never been tested,” Stern said, noting hundreds of public housing tenants who haven’t been screened. “It doesn’t really tell the whole story.”

From Jan. 1, 2012, through June 30 of last year, 1,160 children living in NYCHA-run properties registered elevated levels of blood lead deemed dangerous by the federal government.