In Latest Available Data 5,078 NYC Children Test Positive for Dangerous Lead Exposure Annually

NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Frankel Law Firm, with recognized practitioners in New York lead poisoning litigation for 47 years, today announced a $3 million settlement for a Bronx family whose young child suffered serious brain damage from lead paint exposure reaching 46 micrograms per deciliter, more than thirteen times the CDC's current reference level of 3.5 μg/dL.

The settlement, finalized after intensive litigation against property owners who was alleged to have systematically ignored New York City's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act requirements, will provide lifetime support for a child now facing permanent cognitive impairment, behavioral disorders, and developmental delays requiring specialized education and medical intervention. The case highlights the ongoing lead poisoning epidemic affecting thousands of New York City children annually, with the latest NYC Department of Health surveillance data revealing that 5,078 children under age six tested positive for elevated blood lead levels (≥3.5 μg/dL) in 2023 alone.

The affected child  was exposed to deteriorating lead paint dust and chips in a pre-1960 Bronx apartment building over a period of three years and experienced a dramatic decline in developmental milestones beginning at age two. Medical evaluations confirmed severe neurotoxic effects including an IQ reduction of approximately 20 points, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, executive function impairment, and significant learning disabilities that will require lifelong support services. The property owners had received multiple violations from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development but failed to remediate the hazardous conditions despite repeated tenant complaints about peeling paint and visible paint chips.

"This $3 million settlement, while substantial, cannot restore what lead poisoning has stolen from this child—his cognitive potential, his educational opportunities, his future independence," stated Michael Stewart Frankel, founding partner of The Frankel Law Firm and member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a distinction held by fewer than one percent of U.S. attorneys. "What this settlement does accomplish is ensuring this family has the resources necessary for specialized education, behavioral therapy, medical care, and support services throughout the child's lifetime. It also sends an unmistakable message to negligent landlords across New York City that failing to protect children from lead hazards will result in serious financial consequences."

The Continuing Lead Poisoning Crisis in New York City Housing

The case exemplifies a broader public health crisis that persists despite decades of awareness about lead paint dangers. According to EPA estimates, lead paint exists in 87 percent of homes built before 1940 and 69 percent of homes built between 1940 and 1959, creating widespread exposure risks throughout New York City's aging housing stock. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has definitively established through extensive research that no level of lead exposure is safe for children, with even minimal exposure causing measurable cognitive decline. In October 2021, the CDC updated its blood lead reference value from 5.0 μg/dL to 3.5 μg/dL, reflecting growing scientific consensus about the dangers of even lower lead levels.

The neurotoxic effects of lead exposure are both immediate and permanent. Medical research consistently demonstrates that for every 10 μg/dL increase in blood lead levels, children lose approximately 4.6 IQ points, with associated increases in antisocial behavior, reduced executive function, and decreased academic achievement. These impacts persist throughout the affected individual's lifetime, resulting in reduced earning capacity, increased likelihood of criminal justice involvement, and higher rates of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Despite clear scientific evidence and legal requirements under New York City's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, enforcement remains dangerously inconsistent. The law requires property owners of buildings constructed before 1960 to conduct annual inspections for lead paint hazards, immediately remediate any identified hazards using certified contractors, and maintain comprehensive records of all inspection and remediation activities. However, systematic failures in enforcement have left thousands of children vulnerable to preventable lead exposure.

Extensive Media Coverage Documents Systematic Failures in Lead Poisoning Prevention

The Frankel Law Firm's aggressive advocacy on behalf of lead-poisoned children has attracted significant national media attention, with major news outlets repeatedly turning to the firm's attorneys for expert commentary on the ongoing crisis. This extensive coverage not only highlights individual cases but exposes systematic failures in protecting New York City's most vulnerable residents.

CBS New York featured lawyer Reuven Frankel in an investigative report that revealed shocking disparities in how lead paint violations are handled. The investigation found that the New York City Housing Authority contests 84 percent of health department lead paint orders, compared to just four percent for private landlords. In the report, Frankel, representing a family in a NYCHA case, stated unequivocally: "It's clear that the kids come last here."

The firm's insight was further sought by CBS New York in their coverage of proposed legislative reforms, where Frankel provided critical analysis: "We keep on passing laws, but we don't do the follow-up and the follow-through. Laws are great. They have to be enforced." This commentary underscores the gap between legal protections on paper and actual enforcement that leaves children at risk.

The New York Post has extensively covered the firm's work in multiple investigative pieces. Their July 8, 2019 article "City failed to remove lead-poisoned kids from toxic NYCHA apartments" exposed how children with confirmed lead poisoning continued living in contaminated housing. A subsequent August 12, 2020 investigation titled "NYC schools tested positive for lead paint nearly 50K times in 5 years" revealed the widespread nature of lead hazards in educational settings where children spend significant portions of their day.

Educational impacts of lead poisoning received detailed coverage in Chalkbeat New York's feature story "Exposed to lead as a baby, Bishop now struggles in school," which followed one of the firm's young clients through their educational challenges. The piece illustrated how lead exposure creates cascading academic difficulties that require extensive special education services and accommodations throughout a child's schooling.

The City's investigative journalism featured Reuven Frankel's extensive knowledge in their exposé "Lead Paint Found in Hundreds of Elementary Schools," which documented widespread lead hazards in New York City's educational facilities. Similarly, amNewYork Metro published an investigation titled "Health Department let NYCHA cover up lead paint hazards even after child was hospitalized: lawsuit," featuring the firm's representation of a family in litigation against both NYCHA and the NYC Health Department for systematic failures in protecting children.

The Brooklyn Eagle quoted Reuven Frankel on technical aspects of lead detection in their report "Over 900 NYC classrooms serving the city's youngest children have deteriorating lead paint," where Frankel explained XRF testing protocols and their importance in identifying lead hazards before children are exposed.

National coverage of the firm's work includes Reuters' report "NYC mother seeks millions from city after child's lead poisoning," documenting the firm's representation of families affected by city agency negligence. Gothamist covered a potential $10 million lawsuit against the NYC Department of Education, while the New York Daily News reported on the firm's representation of families placed in lead-contaminated housing by city agencies responsible for their protection.

Establishing Legal Precedents That Protect New York's Children

The Frankel Law Firm's 47-year history includes establishing several landmark legal precedents that have fundamentally strengthened protections for lead-poisoned children throughout New York State. The Frankel Law Firm served as counsel for the plaintiffs in the seminal case Juarez v. Wavecrest Management Team Ltd., 88 NY2d 628, which established critical principles of landlord liability under NYC Local Law 1. This precedent-setting decision clarified that landlords have an affirmative duty to maintain lead-safe housing regardless of actual knowledge of a child's presence, fundamentally shifting the burden of lead poisoning prevention to property owners.

The firm also secured victory in Munoz v. Puretz, which extended liability for prenatal lead exposure, recognizing that lead's neurotoxic effects begin in utero. This groundbreaking case established that property owners can be held liable for cognitive damage that occurs before birth when pregnant mothers are exposed to lead hazards, significantly expanding protections for expectant mothers and their unborn children.

Through decades of litigation, the firm has developed sophisticated strategies for proving causation in lead poisoning cases, documenting both economic and non-economic damages, and holding property owners accountable even when they attempt to shift blame to previous owners or claim lack of knowledge about lead hazards. This experience has resulted in millions of dollars in recoveries for lead poisoning victims throughout the New York metropolitan area.

Comprehensive Legal Representation Across the New York Metropolitan Area

The Frankel Law Firm provides comprehensive legal representation for lead poisoning victims throughout New York City's five boroughs—Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island—as well as Nassau County and Westchester County. The firm's deep understanding of local housing codes, health department regulations, and court procedures in each jurisdiction enables effective representation regardless of where the lead exposure occurred.

The firm's attorneys bring specific knowledge in cases involving New York City Housing Authority properties, where apparently systematic failures in lead paint remediation have affected thousands of families. They also represent families in cases against private landlords, property management companies, appliance and toy manufacturers and dealers, and cases involving lead exposure in schools and daycare facilities. This comprehensive approach ensures that all potential sources of liability are identified and pursued to maximize recovery for affected families.

"Lead poisoning cases require extensive medical documentation, expert testimony, and sophisticated legal strategies to prove causation and damages," explained Reuven Frankel, attorney at The Frankel Law Firm and recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023, a distinction awarded to only 2.5 percent of attorneys in the New York Metro area. "We understand what evidence is needed, which experts to retain, and how to present complex medical information in a way that  translates directly into better outcomes for our clients."

Understanding the Medical and Educational Impacts of Childhood Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning's effects on children extend far beyond immediate health concerns, creating lifelong challenges that affect every aspect of development and future potential. When lead enters a child's bloodstream, it crosses the blood-brain barrier and interferes with neurotransmitter function, disrupts calcium signaling essential for brain development, and causes oxidative stress that damages neural tissue (e.g., Legget RW. An age-specific kinetic model of lead metabolism in humans. Environ Health Perspect 1993; 101:598-616; Bressler JP, Goldstein GW. Mechanisms of lead neurotoxicity. Biochem Pharmocol 1991;41:479-84; Bressler J. Molecular mechanisms of lead neurotoxicity. Neurochem Res1999;24:595-600; Silbergeld EK. Mechanisms of lead neurotoxicity, or looking beyond the lamppost. FASEB J 1992;6:3201-6). . These mechanisms result in reduced gray matter volume, altered white matter structure, and disrupted neural connectivity that manifests as cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, and learning disabilities.

As noted above, educational impacts typically include significant IQ reduction, with studies showing an average decrease of 4.6 IQ points for every 10 μg/dL increase in blood lead levels. Children also experience attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at rates three to five times higher than unexposed peers, executive function impairment affecting planning and decision-making abilities, reduced processing speed that impacts all areas of learning, and increased rates of learning disabilities requiring special education services.

Behavioral and social consequences often include increased aggression and antisocial behavior, higher rates of juvenile delinquency and adult criminal behavior, difficulty with emotional regulation and impulse control, and increased risk of substance abuse disorders. These behavioral impacts often result in disciplinary problems at school, difficulty maintaining employment in adulthood, and strained family relationships throughout life.

The economic burden on families includes immediate medical costs for chelation therapy and ongoing treatment, special education services that can cost $20,000 to $50,000 annually, behavioral therapy and psychological counseling throughout childhood and adolescence, occupational and speech therapy to address developmental delays, and tutoring and educational support services. Long-term economic impacts include reduced lifetime earning capacity, increased healthcare costs throughout adulthood, and potential costs of criminal justice involvement.

Critical Information for Families: Recognizing Lead Poisoning Risks and Symptoms

Parents and caregivers must remain vigilant for signs of potential lead exposure, particularly in older housing. Risk factors that should prompt immediate testing include residence in buildings constructed before 1978, especially those built before 1960, visible peeling, chipping, or deteriorating paint, paint dust on window sills or floors, recent renovation or repair work that disturbed painted surfaces, and previous reports of lead hazards in the building or neighborhood.

Early symptoms of lead poisoning are often subtle and easily mistaken for other conditions. Parents should seek immediate medical evaluation if their child exhibits developmental delays or regression in milestones, unusual irritability or behavioral changes, complaints of abdominal pain or constipation, decreased appetite or weight loss, fatigue or decreased activity levels, learning difficulties or attention problems, or hearing problems or speech delays.

The Frankel Law Firm emphasizes that many children with lead poisoning show no obvious symptoms until significant damage has occurred, making regular testing crucial for children in at-risk environments. The CDC recommends blood lead testing at ages one and two for all children in high-risk areas, with additional testing based on risk assessment.

Free Legal Consultation and No Upfront Costs for Affected Families

Understanding that families dealing with childhood lead poisoning face significant financial burdens, The Frankel Law Firm offers free, comprehensive case evaluations to determine whether legal action can help secure necessary resources for affected children. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis as regulated by New York Court Rules, meaning families can pay no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no expenses unless and until compensation is recovered.

During the free consultation process, the firm's experienced attorneys review medical records and blood lead test results, evaluate the property's history and violation records, assess potential defendants and sources of recovery, explain the legal process and likely timeline, and provide honest assessment of the case's potential value. This consultation ensures families understand their rights and options before making any decisions about pursuing legal action.

Time limits apply to lead poisoning claims under New York's statute of limitations, making prompt action often critical for preserving legal rights.

The Frankel Law Firm's Broader Commitment to Child Safety and Public Health

Beyond individual case representation, The Frankel Law Firm actively advocates for stronger lead poisoning prevention laws and improved enforcement mechanisms. Reuven Frankel has provided testimony to  the New York City Council, provided guidance to legislative committees, and worked with public health advocates to push for reforms that better protect children. This advocacy includes supporting legislation requiring more frequent inspections, stricter penalties for non-compliant landlords, improved notification requirements for tenants, and increased funding for lead remediation programs.

How The Frankel Law Firm May Be Able To Help Your Family Today

If your child has been diagnosed with elevated blood lead levels or you suspect lead exposure in your home, The Frankel Law Firm can provide immediate assistance and guidance. The firm's comprehensive approach to lead poisoning cases ensures that every aspect of your child's injury is documented.

The legal team at The Frankel Law Firm will conduct a thorough investigation of your living conditions, including reviewing all property records and violation history, coordinating independent lead testing if necessary, obtaining all relevant medical records and test results, consulting with medical experts to establish causation and document damages, and identifying all potentially liable parties to maximize recovery. The firm handles all aspects of litigation, from initial filing through trial if necessary, allowing families to focus on their child's care and recovery.

Contact The Frankel Law Firm for Immediate Assistance

Families concerned about potential lead exposure or seeking legal representation for a lead-poisoned child should contact The Frankel Law Firm immediately for a free, confidential consultation. The firm's experienced attorneys are available to discuss your case, explain your legal options, and help secure the resources necessary for your child's care and future.

Remember that time limits apply to lead poisoning claims, and early action can make a significant difference in your child's access to necessary resources and services and the preservation of evidence critical to the case. Don't wait to seek help—contact The Frankel Law Firm today to protect your child's rights and future.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The outcome of any legal matter depends on the unique facts and circumstances of each case. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nyc-lead-poisoning-lawyers-secure-3-million-settlement-for-bronx-child-with-blood-lead-levels-thirteen-times-cdc-safety-threshold-302617709.html

SOURCE The Frankel Law Firm