Health Officials Protest Dangerous Levels of Lead Found in Subway Station Paint

During rush hour, as people approach the subway station, peeling paint from the ceiling and train tracks may be the last thing on your mind.

But a group protesting Tuesday says maybe you should.

“There are a lot of things that are wrong for the health of this community,” Councilwoman Sandy Nurse said.

Elected officials, community leaders and other advocates held a press conference outside the Knickerbocker Avenue station in Brooklyn.

They say the peeling paint contains dangerous levels of lead.

“This has to do with the fact that this poison that falls from the trains are pieces of metal that they have, because if they have lead it is already confirmed,” said Evelyn Cruz, who attended on behalf of Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez.

The group says the problem is along 2 1/2 miles of elevated rail structures in Bushwick and Williamsburg on the JM and Z lines.

Salvatore Polizzi, a business owner in the area, ordered tests of the paint that spilled onto the street.

Those lab results revealed that one of the samples had 63,000 parts per million of lead: elected officials say those results were sent to the MTA in January of last year.

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, her representative assured, has fought in Washington to get funds to help the MTA resolve this situation.

“$729 million has come in for day-to-day operations like this. We’re just demanding they do the right thing,” Cruz said.

Lead is dangerous, particularly for children who have a higher chance of exposure.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no safe level of lead in the blood, and even low levels can cause developmental delays or damage.

Talking to train passengers here at this station, they say it’s worrying but not surprising.

“Lead has also been found in private homes. So it’s not surprising. Lead can be found anywhere,” said Mery Tolentino.

“They must do something. They should improve that, paint it. Install it again because that is very harmful to health,” said Gloria Cordero.

Several labor unions joined the conference and say they are ready to complete the job and now need the MTA to move forward with the project.