HomeFeaturesBONJ SeriesLead Poisoning Threatens NJ Communities, Affects Children's IQ

Lead Poisoning Threatens NJ Communities, Affects Children’s IQ

Communities across the country are fighting a variety of threats within their environment, with one of the more common hazards being lead contamination in the earth and water. Though many groups advocate the risk of lead poisoning, only now are some taking steps to eradicate it. One NJ organization at the forefront of this mission is Isles Inc., hoping to safeguard the IQ of local children.

Marty Johnson is the founder and president of Isles, Inc. He recently visited the set of Caucus: New Jersey with Steve Adubato to discuss how the IQs of thousands of children in New Jersey; and how we can improve them by eliminating the threat of lead poisoning from their homes and the environment.


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Isles, Inc., is “a nonprofit community development organization focusing on environmental solutions,” Johnson tells show host Steve Adubato, PhD. “We’re trying to come up with innovative ways to meet a nine-word mission; which is to foster self-reliant families and healthy, sustainable communities.”

The organization, based in Trenton since 1981, commits to designing and developing effective services that help to revitalize communities; as well as train and educate adults and youth, build wealth, and promote healthy living.

The weatherization of homes is a large portion of what Isles, Inc., handles. Johnson explains that the largest line item in most families’ budgets is their housing, often including a hefty utility bill. With thousands of homes in Trenton, Newark, Camden and other communities that haven’t even seen the first generation of energy upgrades, Isles, Inc., who has partnered with PSE&G, is determined to retrofit homes of low-income families and make them safer and more energy efficient.

Through its work, the organization soon found the issue of lead contamination in these areas. As Isles, Inc. began testing residential properties, it found many homes were uninhabitable and severely affecting the kids living there.

To learn about how lead poisoning is negatively impacting children’s IQs and how Isles, Inc., is working to eliminate this threat from communities across the state, take a look at this segment of Caucus: New Jersey with Steve Adubato.

For more stories that impact New Jersey residents, click over to our Hot Topics in NJ series.


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