California Governments Seek $1B In Lead Paint Cleanup

Ten California cities and counties are suing leading paint manufacturers, seeking to force them to remove lead paint from millions of homes at a cost of $1 billion.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that the trial starting Monday in Santa Clara County Superior Court will decide whether the industry knew lead was harmful but sold it to consumers, anyway.

The industry argues that it never deliberately sold a harmful product to consumers and that the old paint is no longer a significant public health risk.

Lead paint has been banned in California for decades but remains in homes built before 1978. Exposure to lead is linked to learning disabilities and other health problems, especially in children.

Topics California