ANNOUNCER: BRICK BY BRICK IS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO LEADING SUPPORT FROM: AND MANY MORE.

WE COULDN'T DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU.

THANK YOU.

THOMPSON: A SAFE AND SECURE HOME MEANS MORE THAN JUST WALLS, A ROOF AND LOCKING DOORS, IT ALSO IMPACTS YOUR HEALTH.

CAN THE BUILDING YOU LIVE IN MAKE YOU SICK?

SHAPIRO: OUR HOMES ARE SLOWLY FILLING WITH ALL OF THESE VOLATILE ORGANIC CHEMICALS.

THOMPSON: FROM CHEMICALS AND MANUFACTURED MATERIALS USED THROUGHOUT BRAND NEW HOMES TO THE OLD SCHOOL TOXINS WE HEAR ABOUT, LEAD IN PAINT AND PIPES, ASBESTOS IN TILES AND INSULATION.

POTENTIALLY, ANY OF THESE COULD CAUSE LUNG DAMAGE, INCLUDING MOLD.

HAMILTON COUNTY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT TAKES CALLS ABOUT IT REGULARLY.

HESSEL: THEY'RE UPSET.

THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE BEING AFFECTED HEALTH WISE BY MOLD, OR THEY SEE A WATER LEAK THAT'S CAUSING THE MOLD OR EVEN I HAVE MOLD ALL OVER MY BATHROOM.

THOMPSON: WHEN IT COMES TO LEAD PIPES, OHIO IS THIRD IN THE NATION, WITH AN ESTIMATED 745,000 STILL IN USE.

CINCINNATI STARTED REPLACING THEM A DECADE AGO.

>> I CONFIRMED RIGHT HERE THAT THERE WAS LEAD, AND YOU CAN SEE THE OLD LEAD PIPE THAT WE SEVERED.

WE CUT THAT AND THEN WE JUST RAN NEW COPPER LINE FROM THE CURB STOP TO THE HOUSE.

THOMPSON: A FEDERAL MANDATE SAYS ALL LEAD PIPES MUST BE GONE BY 2037.

MEANWHILE, AS THAT REMOVAL EFFORT CONTINUES, PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM OTHER TOXINS.

ONE REPORT DETAILS PUBLIC HOUSING BUILT NEAR CONTAMINATED SITES.

CHIZEWER: SO IMAGINE NOW THEY'VE HAD IT FROM THE AIR, THE SOIL AND FROM THEIR DRINKING WATER.

AND THEN BECAUSE SOME OF THESE HOMES WERE OLDER THAN 1978, THEY ALSO HAD LEAD PAINT IN THEM, AND SO THERE WAS A REALLY A PERFECT STORM OF EXPOSURE TO LEAD.

THOMPSON: ON THIS EPISODE, WE'RE LOOKING AT TOXIC HOUSING AND EFFORTS TO RID THESE HARMFUL ELEMENTS FROM THE PLACE WE LIVE.

LET'S GET INTO IT.

THIS IS BRICK BY BRICK; SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO BRICK BY BRICK, WHERE WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY IN SOUTHWEST OHIO.

I'M YOUR HOST, ANN THOMPSON.

OUR TEAM, HERNZ AND EMIKO ARE AWAY ON ASSIGNMENT AND R&R SO WE CAN GET RIGHT INTO IT THIS WEEK.

A SILVER LINING OF THE PANDEMIC IS THAT EVERYONE STARTED THINKING ABOUT THE AIR INSIDE THEIR HOME, AND IN MANY CASES, IT'S NOT GOOD.

WE'LL GET TO SOME OF THE COMMON CULPRITS IN A MINUTE.

BUT FIRST, MODERN DAY TOXINS: ENGINEERED WOODS HELD TOGETHER BY PLASTIC CONTAINING FORMALDEHYDE.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCHER AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK HOMESICK NICK SHAPIRO, SAYS OUR HOMES ARE SLOWLY FILLING WITH VOLATILE ORGANIC CHEMICALS, MORE SO WHEN IT GETS HOT AND WET.

SHAPIRO: AND WHEN YOU READ THEM TOGETHER, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE AVERAGE FORMALDEHYDE LEVEL IN AMERICAN HOMES, ALL AMERICAN HOMES, IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT PULMONARY IMPAIRMENT.

SO THAT'S THE AVERAGE HOME.

IT'S NOT, UM, DECREPIT HOMES.

IT'S NOT THE OLD HOMES.

IT'S THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE.

THOMPSON: SHAPIRO SAYS FORMALDEHYDE IS EVERYWHERE AND IN EVERYTHING.

PROPUBLICA DID AN INVESTIGATION LAST YEAR AND FOUND IT IN FURNITURE AND FLOORING, GAS STOVES, AND ADHESIVES USED IN WALLPAPER, AND CANDLES.

THE EPA SAYS SAFE LEVELS ARE BELOW SEVEN.

A HUD SURVEY FOUND AVERAGE LEVELS OF 23 INSIDE THE HOME.

AS PART OF AN ASTHMA RESEARCH GROUP, SHAPIRO BEGAN STUDYING THE 120,000 TRAILERS THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDED DISPLACED RESIDENTS AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA.

HE SAYS THEY WERE FULL OF TOXIC MATERIALS.

THEY'VE SINCE BEEN RESOLD AND ARE HOUSING PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO, AFTER BEING DRAWN TO THE NEW CAR SMELL, SAY THEY WANT OUT.

SHAPIRO: THERE WAS ONE WOMAN WHO WAS UNHOUSED BEFORE SHE BOUGHT HER FORMER FEMA TRAILER.

AND SHE LIVED IN A JUNIPER BUSH, AND SHE WOULD TELL ME THAT HER FAMILY WAS SO SICK IN THE TRAILER THAT SHE WONDERED IF IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THEY MOVED BACK TO THE JUNIPER BUSH.

THOMPSON: BUT IN MANY CASES, HE SAYS, IT'S NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT.

IT'S A SLOWING OF THE MIND AND IRRITATION OF THE EYES.

SHAPIRO DOESN'T RECOMMEND BUYING A BRAND NEW TRAILER OR HOME, OR RENTING A NEW APARTMENT.

ONE THAT'S FIVE YEARS OLD OR MORE GIVES TIME FOR ALL THE CHEMICALS TO DISSIPATE.

IT ALSO HELPS TO OPEN YOUR WINDOWS.

NOW BACK TO THE OLD SCHOOL PROBLEMS OF MOLD AND LEAD.

CHILDHOOD EXPOSURE TO HOUSEHOLD MOLD RAISES THE RISK OF DEVELOPING ASTHMA.

ACCORDING TO RESEARCH PUBLISHED IN THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, 11% OF THE 40,000 STUDIED HAD IT.

THIS COMPARES TO 7% WHO WEREN'T EXPOSED TO MOLD.

THIS MT.

AUBURN BASEMENT HAS HAD MOLD FOR YEARS AND OVER TIME CAUSED THE HOMEOWNER TO DEVELOP A COUGH.

THE HOMEOWNER, WHO ASKED NOT TO BE NAMED, KNEW IT WAS BAD BUT WAS TRYING TO SAVE UP THE MONEY TO REMOVE THE PANELING, DRYWALL, AND WOODEN BEAMS THAT CONTAINED IT.

PEOPLE WORKING COOPERATIVELY CAME TO THE RESCUE.

THE CINCINNATI NONPROFIT PROVIDES CRITICAL HOME REPAIRS FOR ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS, AND RECENTLY STARTED FOCUSING ON THE ROOT CAUSES OF HOMEOWNER HEALTH.

GRANT: THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO HOW THE HOME IS IMPACTING SOMEBODY'S HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE ILLNESSES THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT, LIKE ASTHMA OR OTHER RESPIRATORY ILLNESS.

THOMPSON: FOR THIS HOME, GRANT SAYS WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE OLD STONE FOUNDATION AND SOAKED UP BY PANELING AND TWO BY FOURS.

PREVENTION OF MOLD IN THE FIRST PLACE IS KEY.

GRANT: OUR PLAN IS TO TRY TO REMOVE SOME OF THOSE THINGS, GET IT BACK TO THE FOUNDATION WALL.

TRY TO CLEAN AWAY SOME OF THE MOLD AS BEST WE CAN, AND THEN HELP MAKE THE BASEMENT AIR DRIER, TRY TO KEEP IT LESS MOIST AND TRY TO MANAGE THE MOISTURE THAT DOES MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE BASEMENT.

THOMPSON: PEOPLE WORKING COOPERATIVELY WILL ALSO TRY TO MANAGE THE RUNOFF FROM THE GUTTERS.

ALL THIS WILL BE DONE OVER A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IF THE MOLD IS IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING OR OTHER RENTAL, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATES AND CAN ISSUE CITATIONS.

JEREMY HESSEL IS DIRECTOR OF THE HAMILTON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION.

OVER THE YEARS, HE'S SEEN PLENTY OF MOLD AND DESCRIBES ONE SCENARIO.

HESSEL: THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST OR BETTER PICTURES WITH MOLD.

THERE'S WATER DOWN HERE IN THE BASEMENT, WHICH IS THEN CAUSING THE WHITE STUFF ON THE SURFACES, WHICH IS THE MOLD TO GROW.

THE WATER HAD BEEN DOWN THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

ABOUT THREE FEET OF WATER IN THE BASEMENT, WHICH THEY NEVER CORRECTED.

AND THEN THE MOLD IS STARTING TO GROW ON THESE SURFACES DOWN HERE IN THE BASEMENT.

THOMPSON: THE HAMILTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT GETS ABOUT 2 OR 3 MOLD COMPLAINTS A DAY IN ALL SORTS OF HOUSING TYPES.

BOTH DEPARTMENTS AND THE CITY OF CINCINNATI HAVE PLENTY OF RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE, INCLUDING A FREE VISUAL INSPECTION SERVICE FOR MOLD AND LEAD PAINT, PAINT CHIP SAMPLING, BLOOD TESTING, AND THE BORROWING OF VACUUMS WITH FILTERS TO CLEAN UP LEAD DUST.

YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AT THINKTV.ORG AND CETCONNECT.ORG.

AND UCLA RESEARCHER NICK SHAPIRO IS WORKING WITH OHIO STATE TO DEVELOP A SMARTPHONE BASED TEST FOR DUST TO DETECT ALLERGENS THAT CAUSE ASTHMA SYMPTOMS IS NOT YET ON THE MARKET.

DID YOU KNOW OHIO RANKED SECOND NATIONALLY FOR ELEVATED BLOOD LEAD LEVELS?

THE PRESIDENT OF CEO OF MIAMI VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP, AARON JEFFRIES, TOLD THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS THAT CHILDREN HERE ARE MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE ELEVATED BLOOD LEVELS, COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

FOR 2025, PUBLIC HEALTH DAYTON MONTGOMERY COUNTY INVESTIGATED AND ASSISTED WITH 138 LEAD CASES.

THOSE FIGURES ARE LESS CLEAR IN HAMILTON COUNTY, AS THEY DON'T RECEIVE LEAD COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY.

HOWEVER, THEY NOTED THEY DID REPORT 16 LEAD POISONING CASES IN 2025.

MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE DANGERS IN THEIR HOME, BUT BRICK BY BRICK'S HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.

TALKED TO ONE WOMAN WHO QUICKLY REALIZED SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE TO PROTECT HER AND HER CHILDREN FROM LEAD BASED PAINT.

LAGUERRE: TRACI STRONG'S FOREST PARK HOME USED TO BE TOXIC.

STRONG: THERE WAS LIKE A VERY, VERY OLD SMELL BECAUSE THEY WERE HERE SINCE 1953.

BUT NOW IT'S SO CLEAR YOU CAN'T SMELL ANYTHING.

YOU CAN JUST SMELL THE NEWNESS OF THE DOORS, THE NEWNESS.

LAGUERRE: THE NEWNESS OF LEAD FREE PAINT.

WE'LL DETAIL THE REHAB LATER ON.

TRACI'S HOME WAS BUILT IN THE 1950S, AND SHE MOVED INTO THE HOME IN THE 1990S.

THE HOME WAS IN DIRE NEED OF REPAIR FOR MANY REASONS, ONE OF WHICH IS BECAUSE OF THE LEAD BASED PAINT IN THE HOME.

DR.

NICHOLAS NEWMAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEAD CLINIC AT CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S.

NEWMAN: THE THING WITH WITH LEAD EXPOSURE IS THAT IT HAPPENS MOST IN YOUNG KIDS, AND BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE EXPLORING, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY'RE DOWN ON THE GROUND, THEY'RE CRAWLING AROUND, THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR HANDS IN THEIR MOUTH.

CHILDREN HAVE CERTAIN WINDOWS OF VULNERABILITY, LIKE AS THEIR BRAINS ARE DEVELOPING AND THEIR OTHER SYSTEMS ARE DEVELOPING, THAT IF SOMETHING BAD COMES AND HITS THEM AT THAT POINT, WHEN THE SYSTEM IS KIND OF MORE VULNERABLE, THEN THAT CAN HAVE EFFECTS LATER IN LIFE.

LAGUERRE: AND LUCKY FOR TRACI AND HER KIDS, WHO WERE RAISED IN THE HOME AND ARE NOW ADULTS, NO ONE HAD ANY EFFECTS FROM LEAD EXPOSURE.

THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

SYLK JOHNSON IS A REPAIR COORDINATOR WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

JOHNSON: WE WORKED WITH A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS THAT HAD KIDS, OR EVEN GRANDPARENTS WHO HAVE THEIR KIDS, THEIR GRANDKIDS OVER ALL THE TIME.

WE HAD ONE, SHE WAS CONCERNED WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN PLAYING OUTSIDE BECAUSE THEY WOULD LICK THE SIDING.

AND THE SIDING WAS LEAD BASED.

LAGUERRE: THESE ARE THE EXACT PEOPLE WHO HAMILTON COUNTY'S LEAD SAFE PROGRAM AIMED TO HELP.

IN FACT, REPORTEDLY 60% OF HAMILTON COUNTY HOMES HAVE LEAD PAINT.

TRACI THINKS BACK WHEN SHE REACHED OUT FOR HELP.

STRONG: I NEED THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE MY HOUSE IS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.

LAGUERRE: IT WASN'T UNTIL 1978 THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BANNED LEAD BASED PAINT FOR CONSUMER USE DUE TO HEALTH CONCERNS.

JOHNSON: WE DO HAVE A LOT OF HOMES THAT WERE BUILT BEFORE 1978.

LAGUERRE: HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS ONE OF THE PARTNERS OF THE COUNTY'S LEAD SAFE PROGRAM.

DESCRIBE THE WORK THAT YOU PERFORMED AT TRACI'S HOUSE.

JOHNSON: WE DID SOME INTERIOR PAINTING.

WE REPLACED EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DOORS.

WE PAINTED THE WHOLE HOUSE ON THE OUTSIDE.

WE DID SOME SOFFIT WORK.

WE REPLACED GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS.

LAGUERRE: THE RENOVATION, REPAIRING AND PAINTING PROCESS IS THE KEY ELEMENT OF THIS GRANT FUNDED INITIATIVE.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION LISC MANAGES THE LEAD SAFE PROGRAM.

LACHE ROACH, SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER AT LISC, SHARES WHY THEY CHOSE THE RRP ROUTE AS OPPOSED TO ANOTHER METHOD CALLED ABATEMENT.

ROACH: ABATEMENT REQUIRES A LOT MORE LIKE DIGGING INTO THE DRYWALL, EXTRACTING ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HAVE LEAD, AND THEN HAVING SOME ACTUAL TESTING, SO IT COSTS A LOT MORE.

THIS RPP PROCESS, THOUGH, AND GOING UNDER THE PRESUMPTION RULE.

LAGUERRE: THE PRESUMPTION RULE ASSUMES THAT ANYTHING BUILT BEFORE 1978 HAS LEAD.

SO THEY CAN JUST GO IN AND RENOVATE THE HOME WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THINGS LIKE THE COSTLY PRETESTING THAT ABATEMENT REQUIRES.

ROACH: THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE RPP IS MORE PROACTIVE, WHILE ABATEMENT IS MORE OF A REACTIVE PROCESS.

RRP IS SAYING, "HEY, WE ARE GOING IN AND JUST REMOVING ANY OPPORTUNITY OR REDUCING ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPOSURE TO INGESTION OF THAT LEAD.

NEWMAN: GETTING IT REMEDIATED IS A SMART IDEA IN TERMS OF PREPARATION FOR THE GRANDKIDS COMING TO VISIT.

AND THE WHOLE POINT OF THE, YOU KNOW, PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING LIKE THAT IS TO TRY TO PREVENT THE NEXT GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM GETTING EXPOSED.

LAGUERRE: THE LEAD SAFE PROGRAM DIDN'T ONLY REMOVE THE TOXIC CHEMICAL, BUT IT GAVE TRACI'S HOME A MUCH DESIRED MAKEOVER.

STRONG: IT FEELS LIKE A WHOLE BRAND NEW HOUSE.

THEY PAINTED MY KITCHEN.

THEY TOOK ALL THE OLD WALLPAPER OUT OF MY KITCHEN, REPAINTED GOING DOWNSTAIRS IN MY BASEMENT, THE WHOLE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE.

I MEAN, THEY DID BEAUTIFUL.

THEY DID BEAUTIFUL.

LAGUERRE: WE LIKE TO ASK THIS QUESTION TO EVERYBODY ON OUR SERIES.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT MAKES A THRIVING COMMUNITY?

STRONG: WHEN YOUR HOUSE LOOKS THE BEST ON THE STREET.

LAGUERRE: THE LEAD SAFE HAMILTON COUNTY PROGRAM HAS REACHED ITS FULL CAPACITY, AND THE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM WILL EXPIRE IN FEBRUARY OF 2026.

BUT BOTH THE CITY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH A LOAN PROGRAM THAT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOMEOWNERS.

FOR BRICK BY BRICK, I'M HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.

IN HAMILTON COUNTY.

THOMPSON: OHIO KNOWS IT HAS A LEAD PAINT PROBLEM BECAUSE MANY OF ITS HOMES ARE OLD.

OF CITIES WITH THE MOST HOMES BUILT BEFORE 1940, CINCINNATI IS EIGHTH.

AMONG SMALLER CITIES, DAYTON IS RANKED SEVENTH.

LEAD PAINT WAS OUTLAWED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR CONSUMER USE IN 1978.

THERE IS STATE HELP TO GET RID OF IT, BUT NOT AS MUCH.

LAST YEAR, OHIO INCREASED THE LEAD ABATEMENT TAX CREDIT, BUT CUT ITS LEAD ABATEMENT FUNDING FROM 7.5 MILLION A YEAR TO $250,000, AND IT ABOLISHED ITS LEAD SAFE HOME FUND PROGRAM.

THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR SAYS THESE BUDGET CUTS WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

WE CONTINUE NOW WITH A SHORT TANGENT ON SOME OTHER TOXINS THAT IT'S WORTH BEING AWARE OF.

RADON GAS.

IT'S A NATURALLY OCCURRING, RADIOACTIVE, COLORLESS, ODORLESS GAS THAT COMES FROM THE BREAKDOWN OF URANIUM ROCKS.

IT SEEPS INTO BUILDINGS AND CAN CAUSE HEALTH RISKS OVER TIME.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH TESTED 68 HOMES IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, AND 54 OF THEM HAD A READING ABOVE THE EPA THRESHOLD OF FOUR.

THE FIX IS INSTALLING A SYSTEM WHICH VENTS IT FROM BENEATH THE HOUSE FOUNDATION.

HERE'S SOMETHING ELSE, YOU KNOW ABOUT FIRSTHAND AND SECONDHAND SMOKE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THIRDHAND SMOKE?

IN A 2025 REPORT, CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RESEARCHERS FOUND LINGERING TOBACCO SMOKE IN DUST, OLD CARPETS, COUCHES AND OTHER SURFACES, AND ULTIMATELY ON THE HANDS AND IN THE SALIVA OF KIDS.

THEY LIVED IN HOMES WHERE NOBODY SMOKED AND THERE WERE STRICT NO SMOKING RULES.

NOW BACK TO LEAD.

US CITIES HAVE 11 YEARS TO GET RID OF ALL LEAD WATER PIPES.

LEAD IN DRINKING WATER CAN CAUSE LEARNING DISABILITIES IN CHILDREN, BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AND SLOWED GROWTH.

CINCINNATI IS AHEAD OF THE GAME BUT IS FEELING THE PRESSURE TO GO FASTER.

GETTING THE LEAD OUT HAS A DOUBLE MEANING FOR THE GREATER CINCINNATI WATER WORKS.

EVEN THOUGH IT STARTED REPLACING LEAD PIPES WITH COPPER A DECADE AGO, IT NEEDS TO NEARLY DOUBLE WHAT IT DID LAST YEAR TO MEET EPA REGULATIONS.

THAT'S A GOAL OF 3000 A YEAR.

SO WE KNOW SOME DIGGING IS INVOLVED.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO REPLACE THE LEAD PIPE IN A TYPICAL HOME?

MOERLEIN: WELL, YOUR TYPICAL HOMES ARE ALWAYS DONE WITHIN A DAY.

ONCE WE SHUT THE WATER OFF IN THE MORNING, WE HAVE TO HAVE IT ON WITHIN EIGHT HOURS.

SO NORMAL WORK DAY IS 7 TO 3 AND WE'LL HAVE YOU PLUGGED IN AND WATER BACK ON, IF ALL GOES WELL, USUALLY BY ONE 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

THOMPSON: MOERLEIN CONSTRUCTION IS ONE OF MANY CONTRACTORS GREATER CINCINNATI WATERWORKS USES TO REPLACE THE LEAD PIPES ON THE PRIVATE SIDE FROM THE STREET TO THE HOUSE.

IT HAD AN ESPECIALLY BIG CHALLENGE WITH THIS NORTH AVONDALE PROPERTY AND ITS PORCH.

GREENE: I ALSO HAD A FOOTER THAT THIS FOUNDATION IS RESTING ON THAT WAS INCREDIBLY THICK, SO WE HAD TO DRILL THROUGH THERE.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT PIPE GOING UNDERNEATH THAT FOOTER, GOING THROUGH THE FOOTER, I ADDED AN EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION.

IT KIND OF LOOKED LIKE AN INDUSTRIAL SWIM NOODLE.

THOMPSON: THEY COVERED IT UP WITH SAND AND DIRT AND THEN WENT INSIDE TO PREPARE THE HOOKUP.

BECAUSE WATERWORKS AND ITS CUSTOMERS ARE FOOTING THE BILL, REPLACING THOUSANDS OF LEAD SERVICE LINES GETS EXPENSIVE.

KAPPERS: WE'RE CONSTANTLY ANALYZING THAT, THE COST OF SERVICE.

SO WE SAY, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST US TO DO OUR BUSINESS?

AND THAT HAS TO BE REFLECTED IN RATES.

SO COSTS EVERYWHERE ARE GOING UP.

SO THERE'S POTENTIAL THAT RATES MAY GO UP AT SOME POINT.

HOWEVER, WE ARE MAXIMIZING OUR GRANTS AND LOANS.

THOMPSON: IT USED TO BE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED, BUT WATERWORKS HAS PRIORITIZED REPLACEMENT BASED ON A NEW UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI MODEL.

KAPPERS: SO IT BROKE DOWN OUR WHOLE SERVICE AREA INTO CENSUS BLOCKS, WHICH IS JUST A COUPLE STREETS IN AN AREA.

AND IT ADDED IN FACTORS TO TRY TO IDENTIFY POPULATIONS MOST VULNERABLE TO LEAD.

THOMPSON: IT WAS NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO THAT CINCINNATI REALIZED LEAD PIPES WERE BAD AND DIDN'T ALLOW THEM IN HOMES BUILT AFTER 1928.

SWITCHING GEARS NOW TO FEDERALLY ASSISTED HOUSING, IT'S COME TO LIGHT THAT THE GOVERNMENT BUILT A NUMBER OF HOUSING PROJECTS NEAR CONTAMINATED SITES.

AN INVESTIGATION, PUBLISHED IN JUNE 2020 BY THE FORMER SHRIVER CENTER ON POVERTY LAW AND EARTHJUSTICE FOUND EVIDENCE OF TOXINS IN THE AIR, THE SOIL, IN PAINT, AND IN DRINKING WATER IN EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA.

EARTHJUSTICE'S DEBBIE CHIZEWER FILED A CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND TALKS ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST DISTURBING PIECES OF EVIDENCE FROM THE 1960S.

CHIZEWER: A MAYOR OF EAST CHICAGO WAS QUOTED AS SAYING, "WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THIS HOUSING HERE BECAUSE IT'S -- UH, IT MAY NOT BE DESIRABLE, BUT IT'S WHERE THE OTHER BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE LIVE."

THOMPSON: THE COMPLAINT LED TO SOME RELIEF FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT WAS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE FOR RESIDENTS.

HOWEVER, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HOUSING VOUCHERS TO MOVE TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.

EAST CHICAGO ISN'T ALONE IN ITS CONTAMINATION.

YOU CAN FIND A LINK AT CETCONNECT.ORG AND THINKTV.ORG TO DISCOVER ALL HOUSING TYPES WITHIN A QUARTER MILE OF A SUPERFUND SITE.

EARTHJUSTICE IS CALLING ON THE EPA TO STRENGTHEN ITS STANDARDS FOR CLEANUP OF LEAD AND SOIL.

CHIZEWER: AND I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT WE ADVOCATED FOR IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE NOT CITING HOW PUBLIC HOUSING OR FEDERALLY ASSISTED HOUSING NEAR CONTAMINATED SITES.

AND THAT REQUIRES MORE THOUGHTFULNESS IN DECISION MAKING, BOTH FOR HUD THAT'S MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT CITING.

IT REQUIRES MORE ATTENTION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THINKING ABOUT ZONING AND THINKING ABOUT LOOKING AT THE IMPACTS.

THOMPSON: AND MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

FOR THE CLEANUP, EARTHJUSTICE WANTS TO FORCE POLLUTERS TO PAY, AND IF THEY CAN'T, THEY SAY THE EPA'S NATIONWIDE PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY, CLEAN UP, AND RETURN CONTAMINATED SITES TO PRODUCTIVE USE NEEDS TO BE FULLY FUNDED BY CONGRESS.

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE AND GOING DEEPER ON THE ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS WE'RE REPORTING, CHECK OUT OUR SHOW PAGE ON THINKTV.ORG AND CETCONNECT.ORG.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THIS STORY ALONG WITH ALL OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RESPONSES WE'VE BEEN COVERING IN THE FIRST FEW SEASONS RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS, INCLUDING FREE COUNTY PROGRAMS TO EVALUATE TOXINS IN YOUR HOME.

YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE GREEN BUTTON TO SHARE WHAT SOLUTIONS YOU THINK THE COMMUNITY SHOULD GET BEHIND.

THROUGHOUT THIS EPISODE, THE SOLUTIONS WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL INVOLVE REMOVING THE TOXINS FROM THE HOME.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS THAT STRATEGY?

VERY EFFECTIVE, IF IT'S BEFORE ANY LONG TERM COGNITIVE OR LUNG DAMAGE.

30 YEARS AGO IN PHILADELPHIA, WITH SOME OF THE OLDEST HOMES IN THE COUNTRY, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LAUNCHED THE COMMUNITY ASTHMA PREVENTION PROGRAM.

IT SENDS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS INTO THE HOME TO EDUCATE AND MAKE SMALL CHANGES, AND PARTNERS WITH VARIOUS HOME REPAIR AGENCIES TO FIX STRUCTURAL DEFECTS.

A STUDY FOUND FEWER ASTHMA SYMPTOMS, LESS HOSPITALIZATIONS AND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS.

PEOPLE INTERVIEWED ALSO REPORTED QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS AND A BROADER SENSE OF WELL-BEING.

LIMITATIONS FOR GREENING UP TOXIC HOUSING COMES DOWN TO COST, AND REGULATIONS.

FORMALDEHYDE PRODUCTS LIKE RESIN AND FURNITURE AND CABINETRY, SHELVING, COUNTERTOPS AND FLOORING ARE CHEAPER THAN SOLID WOOD OR GRANITE.

DOING WITHOUT THOSE CHEMICALS DOESN'T HAVE TO INCREASE THE COST AS MUCH AS YOU MIGHT THINK HOWEVER.

SUSTAINABLE HOME CONSTRUCTION FIRM ECO HOME DID AN ANALYSIS IN 2021 AND FOUND THAT A GREEN KITCHEN WITH FORMALDEHYDE-FREE CABINETS, EXCLUDING COUNTERTOPS AND TAXES, IS JUST $1,300 MORE THAN ONES WITH FORMALDEHYDE.

IN ORDER TO MITIGATE LEAD AND MOLD ISSUES, THERE'S A SEPARATE LIMITATION: WORKERS.

THEY'RE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS FOR THE GREATER CINCINNATI WATER WORKS MENTIONED THIS AS A CONCERN GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE EVERY CITY IN THE COUNTRY IS NOW HAVING TO REMOVE LEAD PIPES.

DESPITE THESE LIMITATIONS, SCIENTIST AND AUTHOR NICK SHAPIRO IS SOMEWHAT OPTIMISTIC.

HE SAYS, SINCE COVID, PEOPLE ARE THINKING MORE ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME THEY SPEND INSIDE.

SHAPIRO: SO I THINK WE ARE IN A REALLY GOOD MOMENT TO MOVE FORWARD, TO MAKE STRIDES TOWARDS HEALTHIER, HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENTS.

I THINK IN A POLARIZED POLITICAL WORLD, A HEALTHY HOME IS A GREAT WAY TO FIND COMMONALITY.

THOMPSON: SHAPIRO THINKS MOST PEOPLE CAN AGREE THE HOME SHOULD BE A SAFE PLACE.

THAT'S A THOUGHT WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

WE HOPE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING.

AND IF YOU DID, PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT IT.

IT KEEPS THE CONVERSATION AROUND THESE TOPICS FRONT OF MIND IN OUR CITIES, SO WE CAN MAKE MORE HEADWAY IN OUR RESPONSES.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M ANN THOMPSON.

WE'LL BE BACK SOON WITH MORE SOLUTIONS.

TAKE CARE.

ANNOUNCER: BRICK BY BRICK IS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO LEADING SUPPORT FROM: AND MANY MORE.

WE COULDN'T DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU.

THANK YOU.

CAPTIONS: MAVERICK CAPTIONING CIN OH MAVERICKCAPTIONING.COM