Childhood lead poisoning is "one of the most serious problems" in Providence, the mayor says.

01:00 AM EST on Friday, December 2, 2005

BY BRANDIE JEFFERSON
Journal Environment Writer

PROVIDENCE -- Mayor David N. Cicilline testified that more than 43,000 homes in the city had hazardous lead-paint conditions.

In the state's trial against companies that made and sold lead-based paint in the 20th century, the mayor's examination was brief.

Cicilline's testimony was based on the 2005 edition of the Providence Consolidated Plan, a document published by city government with input from advocacy and community groups. The document, published every five years, focuses on housing and development issues.

Although Cicilline was not allowed to testify about how much money the city had spent on lead-paint remediation, he said during his direct examination by state's lawyer Jack McConnell that the problem of childhood lead poisoning was "one of the most serious problems" in the city.

Atlantic Richfield lawyer John Tarantino cross-examined Cicilline briefly, focusing on the extent of the mayor's involvement in the document's production and the reliability of data supplied by advocacy groups.

Tarantino asked whether there was any other official list that could verify that 43,090 homes in Providence had hazardous lead conditions.

Although Cicilline said he could use tax records to find out which houses were built before 1978, the year that lead paint was banned for use in houses, he did not know how to find out which of those houses had hazardous conditions due to deteriorating paint.

Former state Health Director Patricia Nolan is scheduled to give her final testimony today.

Brandie Jefferson has a fellowship with the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting. She can be reached at bjeffers@projo.com.