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Free Lead Hazard Prevention Expo This Weekend in San Diego

San Diego officials are trying to reach out to thousands of families whose children may be exposed to lead. Lead is a highly toxic element that causes health effects ranging from behavioral problems a

Free Lead Hazard Prevention Expo This Weekend in San Diego

San Diego officials are trying to reach out to thousands of families whose children may be exposed to lead. Lead is a highly toxic element that causes health effects ranging from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. You can find out more about lead hazards at an event today in San Diego.

Lead in Mexican candy, toys, and products from China have brought lead back into focus as a health risk. Despite federal, state and local regulations banning lead from house paint and gasoline in 1978, it remains a danger.

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Alan Johanns is the asbestos and lead program manager with the city of San Diego. He says many neighborhoods in San Diego have homes with lead-based paint.

Johanns : Here in San Diego almost 70-percent of our homes were built before 1978. So you look at the numbers and there are probably 330,000 or so homes in San Diego that may have lead paint in them.

He says specialists will offer training on how to deal with lead in the home. Children six and under are most at risk from lead exposure because their bodies are growing quickly. Lead screening for children and toys is also offered at the " Get The Lead Out Expo! .” The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in San Diego’s Kearny Mesa neighborhood.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.

(Location of event is First Floor, Ridgehaven “Green Building” 9601 Ridgehaven Court, San Diego, 92123. For more information, contact the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department .)