How children became this city’s lead detectors

Domininck Tompkins discovered her 1-year-old had high lead levels, suspecting her poorly maintained rental home with chipping paint as the source. Her landlord dismissed her concerns, stating "I don't care" when presented with a city letter confirming the lead risks. Tompkins has since moved multiple times, experiencing homelessness twice, and most of her rentals have contained unaddressed lead paint and dust hazards. Her three daughters, aged 11, 7, and 2, have faced developmental delays and behavioral challenges, which doctors attribute partly to lead poisoning. Tompkins herself had high lead levels as a child and feels powerless to secure a lead-free home. Milwaukee, like many cities, does not require most rental properties to be inspected for lead, allowing landlords to ignore tenant complaints without consequence. This persistent issue in Milwaukee's rental homes highlights the link between tenant rights and children's health. High lead levels are associated with developmental delays, ADHD, and learning disabilities. A Milwaukee study indicated that even low lead levels correlate with lower third-grade academic performance, even after accounting for other factors.