Increased awareness of the dangers of lead poisoning in children have not eliminated the problem in Rhode Island, says Dr. Peter Simon, who has worked on lead-poisoning issues at the state Department of Health for more than three decades. Simon, pictured above, says lead poisoning remains a “public-health and a public-education problem” in the state. He believes new research expected to be published this year will help document the harmful effects on Rhode Island children’s ability to learn, including reading.