Rusmir Kahrimanovic spends a lot of time driving through city of Erie neighborhoods.
When he does, Kahrimanovic constantly sees signs of the daunting public health challenge he’s been working for more than a decade to eradicate.
Deteriorating home facades.
Decades-old window framing.
Flaking paint on front porches.
Kahrimanovic is fully aware of the dangers that lead-based paint can cause.
He’s seen the data.
Lead is a toxic metal. Exposure to significant levels, over time, can lead to a host of problems in children, especially those under 6 years old, that can severely affect a child’s intelligence, behavior and development, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At very high levels, lead poisoning can kill.
And according to the World Health Organization, long-term lead exposure can also lead to a number of problems for adults, including increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues and kidney damage.
“I look around. I pay attention. And just from seeing the houses from my vehicle, I know,” said Kahrimanovic, 52, the founder of Erie’s Rules Construction LLC. “There’s lead paint in all those houses, probably.”