Darela Miles reporting live from Newark
By Darla Miles
Updated 36 mins ago
NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- Testing for lead poisoning starts Thursday for 17,000 children in Newark schools after elevated levels of the toxin were found in the drinking water at nearly half of the city's schools.
City Health Director Hanaa Hamdi told officials Tuesday that testing will start with some 2,000 toddlers who attend early childhood centers. A specific date hasn't been set yet to get blood samples from the children.
Lead is known to severely affect a child's development. It's unclear how long Newark's students have been exposed to higher concentrations of lead. Schools had shut off the water at 30 school buildings last week. They are now using bottled water for drinking and cooking.
Officials said they don't believe the contamination poses any serious health risks. The DEP has said that lead hasn't been found in the city's water supply. It likely leached into the schools' water through lead pipes or other building fixtures made of lead or lead solder.
Mayor Ras Baraka said there has not been one positive test for lead poisoning as a result of the incident.
The testing is free.
On Wednesday night, parents and students expressed their outrage outside and inside the school board meeting in Newark, many looking for answers about the district's water quality issue.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)