Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians address lead contamination in their community

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians recently participated in a program focused on educating the community and testing for lead contamination. Lead, a naturally occurring element, becomes harmful when human activities cause it to contaminate the environment, affecting air, water, soil, and indoor dust. Lead exposure can cause severe health issues, especially in children, including learning and behavior problems and damage to the brain and nervous system. The tribe is partnering with the National Indian Health Board, Badlands, Inc., and others to conduct testing for lead in water, soil, and paint.