Lead in the News
Cleveland can learn from the work of activists and policy makers around the Country
February 2025
Is the Milwaukee Schools lead crisis the next "Flint"? Here's the latest
Feb 14, 2025 WISN Milwaukee health officials planning pop-up lead testing clinics for students It comes as the health department discovered dangerous levels of lead inside multiple MPS buildings. "Two lead-poisoned students prompted health officials to test Kagel School and Golda Meir's Lower Campus. The health department released the schools' lead risk assessments this week. It shows elevated lead levels inside both schools, which is why officials want to hold pop-up clinics to get more students tested for lead poisoning. 'Once we have the site identified, we will get the consents out to the parents at the schools that we're already in,' Milwaukee Health Commissioner Michael Totoraitis said. 'Then we will continue to have the broader conversation of how we will do additional testing sites for the broader community of MPS students.' "
February 13, 2025 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Lead hazards pose ‘immediate and ongoing risk’ at Kagel Elementary, Health Department says. "The Milwaukee Health Department has found lead levels at Kagel Elementary School up to 72 times higher than thresholds set by the state Department of Health Services. A lead risk assessment conducted by the Milwaukee Health Department has found hazardous levels of lead paint and lead dust alongside elevated lead levels in water taps at Kagel Elementary School, 1210 W. Mineral St. 'There are unsafe levels of lead,' said Tyler Weber, deputy health commissioner at the Milwaukee Health Department. 'We need to take all the actions we can to reduce lead exposure.' ”
February 12, 2025. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Health department orders MPS to correct lead hazards at a second school
Feb. 11, 2025. Spectrum News. Milwaukee Health Department releases Golda Meir lead risk assessment "There are dangerous levels of lead contamination in several Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) buildings, according to the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD)."
Why is this a CLASH Story? CMSD lead issues have been ignored for years. The MSD "case" should become a case study for other communities in addressing a lead crisis.
The Milwaukee School Saga last week's news.
Feb 7, 2025 WISN MPS lead dangers: Will more schools be tested?. "WISN 12 News asked the city if any other schools will be inspected. 'We will test more if there are lead-poisoned children,' Milwaukee Health Department Commissioner Michael Totoraitis said. 'We go through the step of initially investigating the primary residence and a caregiver residence or any affiliated residence with that child. And after we exhaust those options, then we'd pursue an MPS school in that case.' " Using the kids as canaries in the coal mine.
Feb 10, 2025 Parents petition for transparency after ‘significant’ lead exposure at MPS schools "Parents at Golda Meir School are demanding transparency from the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) and Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) after tests confirmed elevated lead levels in school buildings. A petition with over 100 signatures as of Sunday night calls for the full release of environmental assessment results, stating that families deserve full access to the findings." Read more here. And here.
February 11, 2025 FOX6 News MPS lead exposure, toxic dust levels at 1 school 'scary to see'
February 11, 2025 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 4th MPS student possibly lead poisoned at school; report on Golda Meir released
February 11, 2025 CBS58. Golda Meir at risk of closing down if MPS fails to address lead hazards
February 13, 2025. CBS58. Milwaukee Health Dept needs help testing MPS schools for lead after hazardous levels found at Kagel Elementary
February 13, 2025. WTMJ. Second lead report reveals high levels of lead at Kagel School
February 13, 2025 WISN. Milwaukee Health Department releases Kagel School's lead report
Around Us-Milwaukee School crisis week of Feb 2nd
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Dangerous levels of lead found in more schools. Health department warns MPS to improve monitoring and control of lead hazards. "Just weeks after the Milwaukee Health Department said a Milwaukee Public Schools student had been lead poisoned at school, the city agency on Wednesday sent a letter to the district saying dangerous levels of lead contamination had been found in 'multiple' MPS buildings. 'Failure to act swiftly and effectively will place children at serious risk of lead poisoning, developmental delays, and other possible health complications,' Health Commissioner Michael Totoraitis wrote in the letter addressed to interim Superintendent Eduardo Galvan and Board Clerk Tina Owen-Moore. The lead hazards inside MPS buildings exceed state safety standards and were discovered through separate case investigations, he wrote. During a news conference Thursday, Totoraitis confirmed that another MPS child has tested positive for elevated levels of lead, bringing the total to two."
February 6, 2025 Up North News. Free lead testing in Milwaukee: What you need to know. "For families concerned about testing costs, several options exist. BadgerCare Plus members can access free lead testing, with coverage extending to children in families earning up to 300% of the poverty level. Additionally, the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary and Coalition on Lead Emergency offer free monthly testing clinics with incentives including stuffed animals for children and gift cards for families."
Around CLASH
To Brent Larkin: "Your op/ed today was almost perfectly on point, except for failing to call out the underlying cause for poor school performance in Cleveland. Neglecting to address childhood lead poisoning will forever doom Cleveland's children to "remedial" education because of the neurological damage of lead in years 1-5. Take a look at CLASH's Tool Kit for Lead Safety and you'll see that every sector of Cleveland's establishment has work to do to eliminate children's exposure to lead. From the failure of the WIC program to offer pre- and neonatal lead testing and the Cleveland Department of Public Health's refusal to do child lead testing from their two mobile health vans, we've got to find children with lead exposure as soon as possible. And we need to support the ambitious, but still faltering, efforts to make Lead Safe Certificate Law a reality and get the lead out of homes of the poorest families. Cleveland is awash in opportunities to turn the corner from lead-sick to prosperous. A generational struggle begins now. Keep up the work."
Around Cleveland
Budget hearings begin in City Council on Tuesday at 9 AM. Will Mayor Bibb get the increases he requested to do code enforcement (including lead safe certificates)? What questions will Council ask the department heads of Building and Housing and Public Health?
Did code enforcement begin in January as predicted by Sally Martin-O'Toole? Thousands of Cleveland landlords are about to get hit with a hefty fine.
Around Ohio
Anthony Weaver of Lead Paint Detectives has a brand new cleaning video (FYI: the video includes an advertisement)
Around Us
February 9, 2025 WUN. Tyler Bernadyn: What landlords need to know about Rhode Island’s lead paint laws. "The discussion about these lead laws have become one of the most polarizing topics in Rhode Island real estate, with many landlords struggling to meet the new compliance standards or understand the reality of the state set deadlines. The costs and conditions of obtaining lead certificates, conducting inspections, and making necessary repairs have led some landlords to consider selling their properties. Faced with mounting financial burdens and the inability to meet the state’s requirements, some landlords are feeling forced to part with their assets, creating a shift in the local rental market. This shift adds another layer of complexity to an already competitive rental market in Rhode Island, where the supply of housing units is well below the demand. The result is a more challenging leasing situation statewide, leaving tenants and landlords alike navigating a difficult and uncertain landscape. In particular, the demand for lead paint inspections has increased exponentially over the past few months as landlords rush to meet the new requirements and lead inspectors are struggling to keep up. For those unfamiliar with the process, navigating these changes can be confusing and financially burdensome, particularly for landlords on fixed incomes or those managing older properties. However, with the right information and support, landlords can ensure compliance and continue to provide safe housing."
February 11, 2025. WirelessEstimater.com Verizon defeats Pennsylvania class action over lead cables—Ruling could doom similar lawsuit in New Jersey "On Friday, a federal judge in Pennsylvania dismissed a proposed class action lawsuit against Verizon Communications Inc., ruling that the plaintiff, former utility pole worker Mark Tiger, lacked standing to sue in federal court. The lawsuit alleged that Verizon’s failure to properly dispose of lead-sheathed telecommunications cables endangered utility pole workers who were regularly exposed to them. View the court’s opinion."
Feb. 13, 2025 WHYY. Philly children are exposed to dangerous lead more often than in other cities, analysis finds "An analysis by Drexel researchers found the highest-risk cities had higher rates of poverty, a higher percent of Black residents and more old homes." This story builds on a Lead in the news story from last month.
February 12th 2025. Syracuse officials stand by lead water tests after report alleges mismanagement, "Community leaders in Syracuse are once again sounding alarms over the city's handling of lead pipes, expressing concerns that the threat is not being properly addressed. City officials have pointed to testing data to argue there is no evidence to support calls for a state of emergency; advocacy groups are now pointing to a report from a nationally recognized expert that suggests otherwise. 'The City of Syracuse has minimized, misled, misrepresented, and avoided addressing the issue right before them,"'Oceanna Fair said. More here. Another story that won't go away. Why is this a CLASH story? Cleveland Water Department has not, to the best of our knowledge, provided their plan to address lead pipe replacement.
February 12, 2025. WhatsUpRI. Department of Health launches public database for rental property lead safety, New system allows tenants to check if landlords have required lead certificates, promotes transparency and accountability "Today, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) announced that it has launched its Rental Registry public database as part of its statewide work to protect children and families from the hazards of lead exposure. With this dashboard, a resident can look up their rental property to see if the property’s landlord has secured a Certificate of Lead Conformance or another lead certificate. These have been required by Rhode Island law for pre-1978 homes since 2005. A licensed lead inspector issues them and documents that a property is in a lead-safe condition. The registry will also make the contact information of the property owner or manager available." What a good idea.
February 13th 2025 States not waiting for Feds to act, passing own baby food safety laws "In the absence of Congress passing a law to require baby food makers to test products for contaminants and meet standards for levels of heavy metals, states are taking matters into their own hands. Triggered by our investigations, Maryland became the second state to protect infants from toxic heavy metals in baby food. In its wake, a national movement is growing." California passed a similar law last year
February 13, 2025. Planet Detroit GOP fights federal lead mandate as new Michigan rules expose more communities at risk. "Several Michigan water systems exceeded the previous lead limit of 15 ppb in 2024, with more communities nearing the new 12 ppb standard, while Republican lawmakers aim to repeal Biden’s lead regulations. [.....] Several Metro Detroit water systems exceeded Michigan’s previous drinking water lead limit of 15 parts per billion in 2024, risking lead exposure in thousands across the region. Even more would have failed under the new 12 ppb standard that took effect in January. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers in Congress are working to repeal the Biden administration’s lead regulations through the Congressional Review Act, which could prohibit the federal government from ever mandating lead service line replacement or lowering lead limits in water."
02-15-2025 Concord Monitor. Opinion: Stop the silent poisoning and protect New Hampshire’s children from lead. "In 2000, as a public health official investigating communicable diseases, I led an inquiry that I will never forget. A two-year-old refugee girl had been placed in an older home in Manchester. She was full of life, just beginning to discover the world around her. But hidden in the peeling paint and dust of that home was a silent killer: lead. Within two months, she suffered acute lead poisoning and died. Her blood lead level was 391 micrograms per deciliter — nearly 80 times the state’s safety limit. But make no mistake, no level of lead is safe for children. Her life was cut short before it had truly begun. More than two decades later, I am still haunted by that tragedy, because I know it was preventable. Reading the latest state report felt like stepping back into that nightmare. 1,142 children in New Hampshire were poisoned by lead in 2023, the highest number ever recorded. The numbers alone are devastating, but the reality is likely even worse. Lead poisoning often goes undetected without testing, meaning more children are suffering in silence, their futures stolen by an invisible threat."
February 15, 2025. Lake County News via Chicago Tribune. Raids hindering Waukegan’s lead pipe replacement efforts; ‘Our engineers are not from ICE’ "Since agents from the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began raids to deport undocumented people on Jan. 25 and 26, Moeller said she is noticing residents in the city’s sizeable Hispanic community are reluctant to come to the door. She has some advice. 'We are seeing it more and more,' Moeller said. 'They can go to our website and see the pictures of our entire team. If it is one of us at the door, it is safe to open it. We’re all Spanish speakers. Our engineers are not from ICE.' ”
Around Us -- Another Milwaukee story
February 10, 2025. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel You ask, we answer: Why are some Milwaukee neighborhoods getting their lead pipes replaced first? CLASH asks "what is Cleveland's plan?"
Around Us--Another Wisconsin story with Ohio Implications
February 10, 2025. Superior Telegram. Superior council delays vote on bill allowing SWL&P access to lead pipe funds "When city councilors meet again Feb. 19, they’ll consider a resolution involving federal lead pipe replacement funding. The resolution was proposed by councilors Brent Fennessey and Mark Johnson on Wednesday, Feb. 5, but a vote was postponed. It would support a proposed bill to amend state law to allow a private company to use federal capitalization grant funds for lead line replacements. State Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Birchwood, and Rep. Chanz Green, R-Grand View, have announced they are introducing the bill." CLASH has a couple questions:
What's up with AquaOhio and lead pipe replacement? A quick check on their website shows no mention of lead.
Any irony in a bunch of R legislators trying to get Federal Funding that Congressional Republicans are trying to cut off? NYT has an answer: Republicans Love Trump’s Spending Cuts. Just Not in Their States.
Around Cleveland -- WOW this is big news
February 3, 2025. Signal Cleveland. Mayor Justin Bibb’s $2.1 billion budget calls for tackling blight. "First Cleveland needs more staff to do it The latest spending plan shows the city will have work to do filling code enforcement vacancies. Cleveland will have around 30 code enforcement vacancies to fill this year, according to Mayor Justin Bibb’s 2025 budget proposal. This year’s spending plan calls for 120 positions in the code enforcement division of the Building and Housing Department. Only 92 people worked there as of December 2024, according to the budget estimate. In a letter introducing the budget proposal, Bibb wrote that 'tackling blight through aggressive enforcement' would be a key priority."
Around Cleveland -- More WOW
Feb. 06, 2025 As Trump threatens cuts, Bloomberg steps in to fund new Cleveland City Hall staff "As the Trump administration threatens to strip cities of federal funding, Cleveland is set to receive a boost from Bloomberg Philanthropies, which is stepping in with a $1.5 million donation to fund three new employees at City Hall. These positions, focused on sustainability and reducing lead poisoning, could come at no cost to the city — offering support at a time when federal dollars hang in the balance. The foundation, established by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is also providing an additional $120,000 for related expenses, reinforcing its commitment to helping cities tackle urgent public health and environmental challenges. [.....] The new staffers also could be assigned to work on the city’s lead crisis. Despite Cleveland’s efforts to rid rental homes of lead, recent findings show that children are still being poisoned in properties that had passed certification. The city’s lead safety initiative, launched in 2019, was intended to protect children from exposure by requiring landlords to obtain lead-safe certifications for their properties. However, data shows that at least 11 children diagnosed with lead poisoning lived in homes that had already been certified. City officials, including Bibb, have called for stronger enforcement and a more thorough assessment process to ensure that homes are truly free of lead hazards before certification is granted.
Could one of these Bloomberg staffers be the Lead Czar that CLASH has recommended since 2021? One of CLASH's most recent suggestion to the Bibb administration was that Emily Collins (Senior Advisor, Major Projects) needs to concentrate on strategy, while a Lead Czar provides day to day coordination of the 5 city departments that have lead programs. Message to Mayor Bibb: This was a campaign promise, remember?
Around Cleveland -- Meanwhile what ever happened to the Xmas Eve announcement of enforcement?
Dec. 24, 2024. cleveland.com. Thousands of Cleveland landlords are about to get hit with a hefty fine. "“We intend to launch them with a bang,” Martin O’Toole told council members. The city was supposed to start writing tickets in November, but Martin O’Toole told cleveland.com that IT issues had delayed that plan. City spokesmen Jorge Ramos Pantoja said inspectors now plan to start issuing tickets in the first few months of 2025, potentially in January. Inspectors will start with thousands of unregistered rental properties." CLASH recalls when B&H director Ayonna Blue Donald (currently on the Steering Committee of the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition) announced that "enforcement is near" in 2021.
Around Cuyahoga
February 5, 2025. WEWS Council member wants answers as group home seeks million-dollar extension. "Wednesday, County Councilman Martin J. Sweeney questioned the county’s head of Health and Human Services about our report. 'When it’s reported in the public and people call me and say ‘Sweeney, it looks like they’re getting a contract again, can you give us reassurance that the children that are in our custody, our care are being taken care of?' " CLASH has repeatedly asked the County to assure that the foster care facilities (even temporary) are certified lead safe.
Around Ohio
Feb 3, 2025. Vindy.com. Youngstown City Council to consider big projects this week "City Council will consider moving ahead Wednesday with several improvement projects, including a nearly $15 million water main and lead line replacement, work to a number of streets.... Council is being asked by the administration to permit the board of control to seek proposals and enter into a contract for the replacement of the water main and lead lines to more than 700 homes in the Buckeye Plat neighborhood on the city’s southeast side. The project is estimated to cost $14,944,000 with the money borrowed from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s revolving loan, which would require 50% to be paid back and the other half forgiven, said Water Commissioner Harry L. Johnson III."
February 7, 2025 Richland Source. Land bank approves three more properties for Lead Ohio grant "The Richland County Land Bank board approved three more residences for a lead remediation program Friday. The land bank is in charge of overseeing Richland County’s Lead Safe Ohio Program, which is funded through the Ohio Department of Development. [.....] The Lead Safe Ohio program requires the Land Bank to prioritize households with an income at or below 80 percent of the average median income. Rehab projects can include replacing siding, windows, exterior doors, roofs, downspouts, gutters, exterior trim, fascia or soffit. Funding can also be used to repair or replace porches.But the project isn’t a blank check for renovations — any work done must mitigate the presence of lead."
February 5, 2025. Blade via Newsbreak. To the editor: Suit delayed solutions for Toledo lead contamination problem. "In every other industry, potentially harmful products that might kill or poison consumers have basic safety rules. Restaurants are inspected by the health department. Cars have seatbelts and airbags. New construction requires permits. It’s only in the rental housing market that investor-landlords have fought, often winning, to eliminate basic protections. Ohio’s only statewide lead law waits for a child to be poisoned, and once the poisoning is discovered, it reacts with some requirements to abate the hazard. Enforcement is weak, and by then, it’s too late." Thanks George for speaking out on lead issues in rental housing. Will other Fair Housing organizations in Ohio get involved in lead safety?
Around the US -- Trump-ets are blowing
February 6, 2025. WaPo. Trump moves to shutter environmental offices across the government. "The administration plans to close the Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental justice office and remake the Justice Department’s environmental division." [....] The EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice was created in 1992 under President George H.W. Bush as the Office of Environmental Equity. In 1994, its name was changed to the Office of Environmental Justice after President Bill Clinton issued an executive order recognizing the pollution that disproportionately burdens poor and minority communities. In 2022, President Joe Biden merged three existing programs to create a new Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. It is unclear how many of its employees will be placed on administrative leave. Asked for comment, an EPA spokesman said only that the office has not yet shuttered. 'Information regarding shutting down the Office of Environmental Justice is false,' spokesman Jeff Landis said in an email. He did not immediately respond to follow-up questions. The move signals a major shift in policy objectives. Though the environmental justice movement dates back several decades, Biden placed America’s racial and economic disparities at the center of his sweeping climate agenda. The Biden administration sought to steer at least 40 percent of federal environmental funding toward disadvantaged communities that have historically borne the brunt of pollution. 'Shuttering the environmental justice office will mean more toxic contaminants, dangerous air and unsafe water in communities across the nation that have been most harmed by pollution in the past,' said Matthew Tejada, who served in the EPA’s Office for Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights from 2013 to 2023 and now works at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an advocacy group. 'The Trump administration is turning its back on the communities in our country that need help the most.' ” Remember that WaPo requires a free registration before being able to access a gift story. Think of it as oligarch's revenge.
3 Feb 2025. Guardian. Republicans move to repeal lead limits imposed by Biden-era rules "Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration are attempting to repeal the Biden administration’s groundbreaking rules that require all the country’s lead pipes to be replaced over the next 13 years and lower the limit on lead in water. Environmentalists expressed alarm about the moves, which, if successful, would in effect prohibit the government from ever requiring lead line replacement in the future, or lowering lead limits. The Trump administration is also working to kill a recently implemented ban on TCE, a compound that is among the most toxic and common water pollutants, and particularly a risk on military bases. Both rules are being targeted via the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which gives Congress and incoming administrations 60 legislative days to consider undoing any last-minute rules implemented by a previous administration. Already, Republican legislators have introduced resolutions for each rule that are the first step in CRA repeals. [.....] While the deal is not done and requires congressional approval, repealing either rule through the CRA is filibuster-proof. Polling has found lead replacement rules have a 90% approval rating, and lead pipes are a problem in Republican districts and states. 'I would hope even some red states want lead out of their drinking water but who knows?” said Betsy Southerland, a former EPA water office manager. The Republican attempt to not only undo the rules but permanently prevent the US from ever requiring lead pipes to be replaced is “mind-boggling', Southerland added."
February 4th, Mountain State Spotlight West Virginia utilities are replacing toxic lead water pipes under a 2024 EPA rule. Trump may roll back the program. "Water systems are required to identify and replace lead drinking water pipes within the next decade. The material of more than 60% of the service lines in West Virginia is unknown. [.....] In a lawsuit challenging the 2024 rule, the EPA asked for a 60-day pause to allow the agency’s new leadership to review the regulations, noting that the courts have previously recognized agencies can review and revise their past decisions if necessary. Last month, a measure to repeal the rule was introduced in the House of Representatives. The money earmarked for this effort could also be in limbo as President Donald Trump moved to freeze funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through executive orders and a memo from the White House’s budget office that has since been rescinded but is still working through the courts."
Around Us
Feb 5, 2025 Union Leader, Lead poisoning in New Hampshire rises to alarming new highs. "Heidi Trimarco, staff attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation supports passage of HB 724, a comprehensive bill that would provide critical solutions to prevent childhood lead poisoning. The bill aims to enhance lead paint poisoning prevention and remediation efforts by lowering the childhood blood lead action level from 5 micrograms per deciliter to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. It mandates that all building permit applications include the EPA-RRP license number for individuals involved in renovation, repair, or painting of buildings constructed before Jan. 1, 1978. The bill also requires the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to inspect all units in a multiunit dwelling if one unit is found to have a lead hazard, and assumes any housing built prior to 1978 contains lead hazards unless proven otherwise by a lead inspector."
Feb 6, 2025. Sentinel Source Sentinel Opinion: Getting the lead out; A recent report indicates more NH children may have serious levels of lead in their bloodA recent report from the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services revealed 1,142 New Hampshire children under age 6 tested in 2023 had elevated blood lead levels high enough to impair their ability to think, learn and concentrate. That was a concerning rise over 2022, when 800 children were found to test above the state standard, which was itself a spike over 2021, when the number was 649. That’s more than a 75 percent rise in two years. A part of the increase could be due to more children being tested. Children ages 1 and 2 are required to be tested for lead during annual doctor’s visits. About 76 percent of 2-year-olds and 69 percent of 1-year-olds were tested in 2023. In 2022, the percentage of 2-year-olds tested was slightly higher, at 77 percent, but fewer 1-year-olds were tested, just 57 percent. And the percentages were even lower in 2021 — in the midst of the pandemic. But any increase is worth paying attention to." It's a mantra: "The more you test, the more you find" A real marker of progress is when you have Universal Testing and the number of cases declines.
Around Us -- Syracuse makes workforce Progress
Feb. 07, 2025. Syracuse.com Onondaga County trains small army of contractors to put a dent in childhood lead poisonings "Onondaga County has trained a small army of lead safety contractors in the past year in a bid to shorten wait times for low-income families with young children vulnerable to lead poisoning.Nearly 400 people have received certifications to remove or remediate lead in the past year under a new county program, Onondaga County’s director of lead operations Jessica Vinciguerra told county legislators last month. It’s time now to see if that workforce can put a dent in the thousands of Syracuse residences with exposed lead paint. '2025 is a big year for us..., because we spent so much of 2024 building up the workforce,' Vinciguerra said. While the county runs the lead abatement program, a majority of the residences fixed up under the program are in the city of Syracuse."
Around the World
5 Feb 2025. Property Wire. Why landlords must eliminate hazards. The Renters’ Rights Bill has been described by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor as “a wave of bold action” to ensure that all homes are “decent, safe and warm”. The legislation promises to reform the private rental sector (PRS) and will introduce the Decent Homes Standard (DHS), long applied in the social housing sector. The government has pledged to reduce non-decent housing by 2030. [.....] Lead is classed as a pollutant along with asbestos and radon gas. Whilst lead paint and pipes were banned completely in 1978, given the age of UK properties, it is thought that millions of houses in the UK still have antiquated lead pipes systems, lead paint and lead flashing which poses a serious health risk. Richard Blakely and others like him are advocating that the government should look at other hazards whilst the Renters’ Rights Bill is still being debated in Parliament. He would like to see a survey of properties to determine the presence of lead in the same way as say the asbestos regulations 2012 imposed obligations on landlords in respect of common parts and public areas. Lead pipes are being replaced both by the water authority and by landlords. Lead paintwork usually only becomes an issue if interfered with. It can be managed but this requires regular inspections, and the risk is where the paintwork is in a poor condition, or it becomes damaged. In those circumstances, it is best removed, and landlords need to take proper care in doing so and comply with current legislation. A prudent landlord, as part of any maintenance scheme, will take steps to investigate the existence of hazards and will act accordingly and promptly to avoid enforcement action by the local authority or more crucially a claim by a tenant for breach of contract, nuisance and negligence. None of this is new but the Renters Rights Bill has highlighted the measures being imposed and the risks to landlords who ignore complaints."
Ready to volunteer?
Feb. 05, 2025, cleveland.com. Stand up to dysfunctional leaders by working with your neighbors for change. "As we watch our national leaders move swiftly to remove our rights and enrich themselves, and watch some of our local leaders behave unethically with little accountability, it’s understandable if you want to just ... disengage. To unplug. To throw in the towel. After all, you can only take in so much. But I invite you to do the opposite. To get involved. To work with neighbors. To demand better. Our leaders don’t want us to do that -- they want us to argue with one another instead of holding them accountable. We must employ that famous Cleveland stubbornness and not give in. And there are many ways you can get engaged. You can speak during public comment at a City Council meeting. You can get involved with or donate to an organization that is fighting for our rights (like the Northeast Ohio Worker Center, ACLU Ohio, and Showing Up for Racial Justice). Or you can build the skills it will require to run for local office or take on a leadership role in the community. There are many local programs that will help you do that, like Cleveland VOTES’ Democracy Collective or the Cleveland Leadership Center. Brianna Zgodinski," Visit CLASH Volunteer page
January 2025
Around CLASH
Thanks for your support for our Fall2Winter campaign. Our Fundrazr site is shutting down today. We're pleased to report that we exceeded our goal of $3000 thanks to your support. Your donations online and by mail totalled $3416. That doesn't include the many hours of volunteer time and out of pocket expenses that our leaders and activists have donated through the past year. Good start to what could be a pivotal year.
Pivotal year? Here's on tap? Check out our 2025 Goals!
Around Ohio: All toledo all the time
Supreme Court puts Toledo's lead safe certificate law back in business (see attached) Thanks Richard.
Jan. 29, 2025 WTVG. Toledo Lead Ordinance causes headaches for landlords. “ 'As a housing provider, it makes it very, very difficult for all the families that we take care of,' said Anna Mills, a realtor. The law requires owners of one to four-unit properties built before 1978 to have their properties inspected for lead paint and issued “lead-safe certificates” from the health department. [.....] Mills rents over 80 properties to families throughout Toledo. She said this will cause a strain on the affordability she strives to give renting families. 'It’s putting extra regulations, it’s putting extra fees, and then they wonder why it’s not affordable and why there’s not enough houses around,' said Mills." Thanks to ZakB for sharing
Anthony Weaver from Lead Detectives sends this update: "The litigation against Toledo, Ohio’s Lead-Safe Ordinance is OVER! There have been lawsuits against Toledo’s Lead-Safe Ordinance for years and The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the City of Toledo by declining to hear the latest case.. Again! Yes, the same lawsuit twice! The Toledo Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition advocacy group has been fighting for an end to the litigation as more children have been exposed to lead poisoning from the homes they live in. Toledo housing has over 50% rental units and there are a lot of out town landlords taking advantage of this situation by not maintaining these homes.While waiting on a decision from the Ohio Supreme Court, the advocacy group formed an Executive Board to create the Toledo Lead Poisoning Prevention and Resource Center that will provide educational opportunities for contractors and community members as well as lead poisoning testing of children." Watch the Lead Paint Detectives summary video: https://youtu.be/g47SyzhCFWU (full statement is attached). Thanks Anthony.
CLASH says: Toledo's first ordinance was the impetus for the formation of Cleveland Lead Safe Network and CLASH. As Jerry Garcia sang "What a long strange trip it's been."
Around Us
Jan 29, 2025 NY Rep. Torres introduces bill to give tax breaks for lead pipe water filters" Joshua Klainberg, senior vice president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said that removing lead pipes is a bipartisan issue and that Torres’ bill should receive broad support. 'Lead is universally disapproved of by everyone in this country,” Klainberg said. “This is something I would think might be palatable across the aisle, considering that it's voluntary and considering that it addresses a very important issue that red states and blue states are equally concerned about."
January 27, 2025. WTVD Durham officials, consultants provide update on lead contamination in city parks "Durham city officials provided an update Monday night after analysis of the soil at several city parks showed elevated levels of lead and other toxins. Those findings -- which were first found in a report from a Duke researcher in 2022 -- had led to the closure of five city parks while additional testing takes place: East End Park, East Durham Park, Northgate Park, Lyon Park, and Walltown Park. Monday's community gathering was standing room only at the Walltown Recreation Center -- just a few feet from one of the parks that have been found to have elevated lead levels. Though the gathering was an opportunity for the city to provide an update -- and what's still to come testing-wise -- it became a rapid-fire back-and-forth as residents peppered officials with questions, and many shared concerns about how the city arrived at this point."
January 28, 2025. WUSF St. Petersburg partnership will help educate homeowners on lead hazards. "Lead poisoning isn’t talked about very often anymore. A lot of people don’t think it’s that common, until it happens in their neighborhood – or their home. Hurricanes can often cause deteriorating lead-based paint and reveal a possibility of lead poisoning, according to the National Center of Healthy Housing. That’s exactly what Hurricane Milton did in St. Petersburg. [.....] 'We didn't plan it, but it really ended up being this divine thing...We were like 'Oh, this is a perfect time to start to talk about why this is something we can talk about.' The partnership, Healthy Homes St. Pete, plans to tackle lead-based paint in homes, specifically those built prior to 1978. Around 36% of Florida’s houses were built before that year."
January 28. 2025. Lohud. This upstate lead project slashed lead levels in kids. NY is bringing it to Westchester. "A new state lead rental registry aims to curb lead paint risks in pre-1980 homes. Rochester’s nation-leading lead rental registry program has protected scores of kids from suffering life-altering health problems caused by lead poisoning. In fact, the number of children found with the most dangerously high blood lead levels plummeted about 70% in the first decade after Rochester enacted its registry law in 2005, declining from 604 to 181, state data show." No question that NY State's Rental Registry is a good way to start to combat lead...
But wait, there's more to the story. October 23, 2024 WXXI News Monroe County child lead exposure data shows increase in testing and in cases of elevated levels. "More local children were tested for lead poisoning in 2023 than in the prior year, according to data that Monroe County released Wednesday. The data also showed a disproportionate increase in the number of children found to have elevated blood lead levels. Last year, 12,788 children were screened for lead poisoning, up from 12,108 in 2022. Of them, 241 were found to have elevated blood lead levels, 100 more than the year prior. [.....] Most of the children with elevated blood lead levels — 197 — lived in the city of Rochester, according to the county. That's been typical in years past, too, and it is largely due to the concentration of older homes in the city. Homes built before 1978 are more likely to have lead paint present." The moral of this story is "the more you test, the more you find." That doesn't mean stop testing or remediating lead poisoning homes.
Monroe County warns of spike in lead poisoning cases among children. This story makes the point that lead paint in old homes is not the only source of lead getting into children's bodies. We need to be testing water, soil, and air to know all the risks.
January 28, 2025. New Hampshire Public Radio Lead poisoning levels are the highest they’ve been since routine testing started in NH. "Levels of lead poisoning among New Hampshire children hit their highest levels in 2023, according to state officials. More than 1,000 children tested positive for lead poisoning in New Hampshire in 2023, according to a recently published report from state officials. That’s the highest number of kids with dangerous levels of lead in their blood the state has seen since routine testing began in 2018. Children ages one and two are required to be tested for lead during annual doctor’s visits. About 76% of one-year-olds and 69% of two-year-olds were tested in 2023. [.....] New Hampshire’s data show one in every 10 children insured by Medicaid tested positive for elevated levels of lead in their blood – more than twice the rate for other kids. Children covered by Medicaid also had lower testing rates than others." More here: Lead Poisoning in New Hampshire Rises to Alarming New Highs
January 28, 2025. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Tony Evers announces lower threshold for lead poisoning as part of children's health focus "Gov. Tony Evers announced a new rule Tuesday that lowers the lead poisoning threshold in Wisconsin. "The new rule will lower the threshold from 5 micrograms per deciliter to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter, according to a press release, and put the number more in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations. The lower threshold is intended to identify more children with lead poisoning and expose them to services. The rule is the latest attempt from Evers' administration to address lead poisoning across Wisconsin, but especially in Milwaukee, where children have to be checked often for exposure to lead." Read More here: Evers says he’s lowering the lead poisoning threshold in Wisconsin.
Related: October 23, 2024. Press Release. MHD Issues New Testing Recommendations to Protect Children. "New Testing Recommendations: [Milwaukee Health Department] MHD has updated its testing guidelines to better safeguard children in the city. Previously, MHD did not recommend universal testing annually after 24 months unless a child tested positive for elevated blood lead levels. However, due to Milwaukee’s large population, the high prevalence of lead paint and other lead hazards, and the deterioration of older homes, MHD is now adopting a more aggressive testing schedule than both its previous recommendations and the state’s current guidelines. MHD’s new recommendations call for universal blood lead testing for all children in Milwaukee at 12, 18, and 24 months, and then annually through the age of 5, regardless of their previous testing schedule or results. This approach provides earlier detection and more frequent monitoring in areas at high risk for lead exposure."
Around Us -- Roll back lead protections?
Jan 28, 2025. Food and Water Watch. Republican Lawmakers Want to Keep Lead In Our Water. "In October 2024, the Biden administration finalized Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, a major update to the lead-in-water rule to require most drinking water systems to replace their lead pipes within a decade. The Lead Out of Water rule was a massive victory in protecting public health against this neurotoxin, which is especially dangerous for children. But Republican lawmakers claim that lead pipe replacements are too expensive. In January, they introduced H.J. Res 18 in Congress to roll back the Lead Out of Water rule. This measure could be reintroduced any day and move quickly to revoke the historic regulation."
January 29, 2025, Wisconsin Examiner. Wisconsin joins legal effort to preserve tougher requirements for lead in water "Wisconsin has joined with nine other states and the District of Columbia to defend the federal lead and copper water rule that took effect Dec. 30, tightening standards for lead exposure and requiring water systems across the county to replace lead pipes by 2037. The new rule, which then-President Joe Biden announced in Milwaukee in October, has been challenged by the American Water Works Association, a trade group for water and wastewater utilities."
January 30, 2025 Louisville Courier Journal via Yahoo. Kentucky proposal would cause irreparable harm to thousands of children | Opinion "Given the cost of lead poisoning and substandard housing that our kids and residents already absorb, there was strong bipartisan support on Louisville’s Metro Council for legislation designed to improve basic living conditions for the thousands of our neighbors who rely on rental housing. Louisville’s rental registry and lead hazard reduction programs are basic, yet vital tools that help monitor and enforce safety standards in the rental housing market. Now these laws are in jeopardy. House Bill 173 would preempt local governments from using tools like rental registries or enacting regulations around preventing lead exposure for children. Governments have a fundamental responsibility to uphold health and safety standards across industries, including housing. These programs offer an effective way to ensure health and safety standards for all children and households while minimizing burdens on the landlords already providing safe living conditions for their tenants. The laws were drafted to make compliance easy, including broad exemptions and incentives for responsible property owners and targeting bad actors putting kids at risk."
Around Us -- New Academic Studies
January 31, 2025. drexel.edu. Wide Disparities in Childhood Lead Poisoning Revealed by City-Level Data. "Elevated blood lead levels were much higher in five cities (Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Milwaukee). In these five cities, one out of 25 children tested had elevated levels, compared to one out of 100 children in other BCHC cities. Compared to other BCHC (Big Cities Health Coalition) cities, these five cities had higher proportions of older housing, families living in poverty, racial segregation, and Black residents. The disproportionate burden of lead poisoning in these communities highlights environmental injustices perpetuated by long-standing systems of structural racism and economic inequality." Thanks Zak for sharing
25 January 2025. Nature. Development of detection system for lead ions in mixture solutions using UV-Vis measurements with peptide immobilized microbeads. "Here, we established a system to easily detect Pb2+ from such mixture solutions using Pb2+ binding peptide immobilized beads (peptidyl beads) and ultraviolet (UV) absorption measurements. This method could detect Pb2+ at low concentrations equivalent to inductively coupled "plasmon-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Using the detected values to create a calibration curve, it was found that there was a positive correlation between the concentration of Pb2+ and absorbance, which also made it possible to quantify sub-µM Pb2+ in the solutions. Furthermore, Pb2+ was detected and quantified under mixed conditions of environmental water such as seas, rivers, and ponds. This method is expected to become a versatile and easy-to-use Pb2+ detection method for end-users worldwide." CLASH would welcome feedback from scientists who could de-code the jargon
Around Cleveland
City Council's Health, Human Services and the Arts Committee - A presentation by the City's Division of Health, Equity and Social Justice. The meeting will be live broadcast. See meeting notice for details. Monday, January 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM EST. Maybe they will talk about lead. CLASH is waiting to hear if the Mayor will bring new legislation to Council in light of his Executive Order.
Around Ohio
January 21, 2025. Ideastream Public Media WIC enrollment reduces infant mortality. A new Ohio law aims to increase access. "Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Jan. 8 signed a law that aims to address maternal care and infant mortality — in part by making it easier for women to get nutrition assistance. The new law, HB7, requires the Ohio Department of Health to investigate federal services and tools available that could improve access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)." Why is this a lead story? The National WIC program does not require or provide for participants (moms and babies) to get lead tests. However Ohio...or local WIC programs *could* provide this feature. After all, child lead testing is a Medicaid requirement.
Jan 25, 2025. vindy.com. Residents line up for chance at home repair, rehab program. Mahoning County will receive $1 million in state funding while Trumbull County will get $1.4 million for housing improvement work. [.....] The rehab program is “aimed at doing larger projects” that have a lead-based paint requirement. And the state has rehab requirements it sets within the Ohio Department of Development — electrical standards, plumbing standards — the project has to meet, he said."
Around Us -- complying with CDC standard for child lead levels.
Jan. 20, 2025. 25News Now Peoria City/County Health Dept. asks for more state funding, says kids have ‘some of highest’ levels of lead in blood. "The Peoria City-County Health Department asked Illinois lawmakers for increased funding for its lead poisoning prevention and treatment programs. Public Health Administrator Monica Hendrickson said Peoria has some of the highest blood lead levels in children in the country. She said the county annually receives $160,000 from the state, but that doesn’t cover the actual costs of the programs. Hendrickson said they realistically need $500,000 to $600,000 annually. This year, the state decreased its standards for children’s lead exposure, which will make more kids eligible for the prevention and response program. Hendrickson said that’s a good thing, however, it puts a strain on the county’s budget. 'Looking at our data from 2024, we expect a 112% increase in our caseload. So really, we want funding to match that more demand and more need that we’ll need to go out and support,' Hendrickson said."
January 22, 2025. Press Release. Wisconsin Conservation Voters: Applauds Gov. Evers enacting emergency rules to lower the definition of lead poisoning. "In his annual State of the State Address tonight, Gov. Tony Evers announced emergency rules to protect Wisconsinites from lead poisoning. The emergency rules will lower the definition of lead poisoning to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. This will ensure we are protecting children from the dangerous impacts of lead poisoning. Government Affairs Manager Peter Burress had this to say on tonight’s announcement: 'We applaud Gov. Evers and his administration for taking action to protect our kids from the dangers associated with lead poisoning. Lead poisoning from pipes, paint, and soil is a statewide problem and has lasting effects on our health, especially children’s health. Excessive lead ingestion can damage the brain, kidneys, nervous system, blood, and reproductive system. The effects of lead ingestion are particularly dangerous to young children and infants and can permanently damage their mental and physical development.' ” Related: Gov. Evers: Declares 2025 the Year of the Kid: ‘If we want to improve our kids’ outcomes, then we have to shorten the odds’ "
Around US
Jan 20, 2025. KXLF Stakeholders in Butte calling for faster cleanup of toxic heavy metals in light of new EPA standards "The EPA's revised standards extended the cleanup boundary in Butte to include more than 7,253 homes in a 25-year time frame. "Last fall, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced a new cleanup level of 175 parts per million lead in soil and interior dust, replacing the current action level of 1,200 parts per million that requires cleanup. The plan also extends the cleanup boundary that consists of over 3,627 homes to include more than 7,253 homes in a 25-year time frame. The EPA is taking public comments on the proposed cleanup and at the beginning of January, Butte-Silver Bow County asked the city council for approval to submit a comment to the EPA on behalf of the Butte-Silver Bow Department of Reclamation." Good luck enforcing the new EPA lead standard!
Jan 22, 2025. Valley Breeze Soil testing next on agenda for city lead prevention program. "Established four years ago, the Central Falls Lead Prevention Program plans to continue their success with lead education, prevention, and advocacy this year by adding soil testing to the agenda. Program Director Heidi Silverio told the City Council on Jan. 13 that officials will be working with the Environmental Protection Agency to test for lead in the city’s soil, which was prompted by Mayor Maria Rivera’s advocacy on the importance of soil testing at home, to protect children. Water testing is also an important part of lead prevention, Silverio added, to determine if there are lead pipes on properties that may contaminate water. 'You have the paint, water, and dirt, and kids are playing outside; kids are touching the walls, putting paint in their mouth, and we use the water to drink and make food,' Silverio said. [.....] The program has made strides in lead prevention and protection throughout the last four years, with over 1,250 units brought into compliance, 'or 50 percent of the housing stock here in Central Falls,' Silverio noted, 557 notices sent out to landlords notifying them of first lead violations, and 302 successful abatement cases in housing court."
January 21, 2025. Lead poisoning is a serious health threat. Here are 5 things you need to know. "The topic of lead poisoning is back in the news after officials confirmed a case last week at the Golda Meir Lower School. A student at the school was exposed to chipping lead paint in a bathroom in the school’s basement, said Tyler Weber, deputy commissioner of environmental health at the City of Milwaukee Health Department. Weber said the Health Department’s investigation continues, but said: 'The most apparent lead paint hazards have been controlled.' The Health Department also plans to conduct testing for lead in the school’s water. Wow! A Health Department that does child lead testing.
Jan 21, 2025. Brattleboro Reformer. Windham County Sheriff's Office steers lead abatement efforts. " 'Lead abatement is important work," Anderson told the Reformer, about his office leading this effort. 'In other states, lead abatement programs are often administered by local and county levels of government. In Vermont, our local governments tend to lack the capacity and we lack equivalent administration in Vermont county government. We believe we are the first sheriff’s office in the country to be awarded this grant and are excited to offer the public safety lens toward improving housing in Vermont.' " Amazing story of local initiative.
Around Us: Citizen Advocacy
January 24, 2025. CNY Community Foundation wins $400K grant for lead-poisoning prevention efforts "The Central New York Community Foundation’s LeadSafeCNY initiative will use a $400,000 grant to support the LeadSafeCNY coalition’s outreach and community engagement over the next two years. The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation of New York City awarded the funding, per the Community Foundation’s Wednesday announcement. The coalition is a collaboration of stakeholders from the health care, housing, education, philanthropy, and government sectors, as well as affected residents, who are working to decrease lead-poisoning rates in Central New York, the CNY Community Foundation said. The coalition will use the funding to support its director position, which is held by LaToya Jones through United Way of Central New York. The money will also help pay for expenses related to resident engagement and advocacy efforts."
More on LeadSafeCNY
Jan. 22, 2025 St. Louis Public Radio Organization pushes St. Louis County for policies to get lead out of school water. "A new law required local school districts to test drinking water for lead. After many did find lead above the state threshold, St. Louis environmental justice advocates are asking for more accountability for remediation. Organizers from a local community group called for new policies to clean up lead in St. Louis-area public schools at the St. Louis County Council meeting Tuesday. Metropolitan Congregations United wants to see a county-level ordinance to hold school districts accountable for lead remediation in drinking water that is already required by state law but that organizers say is not being enforced."
Around Us -- Autism scam
January 24, 2025. CBS News "Autism detox" treatments are not science-backed and have health risks, experts warn. "Misinformation is circling online about so-called 'autism detox treatments,' with products promising to reverse autism diagnoses by removing toxins and heavy metals from the bloodstream. The products are often made with the mineral zeolite and sold as tinctures, sprays and more, marketed especially for kids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says these detox products are not approved to treat autism and warns that they can carry significant health risks — and other experts are sharing similar concerns. 'There is absolutely no science behind this,' Dr. Alycia Halladay, chief science officer at the Autism Science Foundation, said on 'CBS Mornings Plus' Wednesday. 'There's no science behind the idea that individuals with autism have a higher load of any of these heavy metals. It's been tested and disproven. There's no reason for parents to use these artificial detoxes like zeolite minerals.' " This is an important issue since the symptoms of childhood lead poisoning and autism are often similar. In either case, there is no home remedy.
Around Us -- Lead from Urban Fires
Jan. 20, 2025 New York Times Airborne Lead and Chlorine Levels Soared as L.A. Wildfires Raged "The findings give new insight into the dangers of urban wildfires that burn plastics and other chemicals in homes and property. At the height of the Los Angeles County wildfires, atmospheric concentrations of lead, a neurotoxin, reached 100 times average levels even miles from the flames, according to early detailed measurements obtained by The New York Times. Levels of chlorine, which is also toxic at low concentrations, reached 40 times the average. The spiking levels underscore the added danger from wildfires when cars, homes, and other structures burn, researchers said. Lead is often present in paint and pipes used in older homes, while chlorine and other chemicals are generated when plastic melts or combusts."
Around Us-Trump "Fires" HUD Inspector general
January 25, 2025. Washington Post (WaPo) Trump ousts at least 12 independent inspectors general in late-night purge. "The dismissals appeared to violate federal law, which requires Congress to receive 30 days’ notice of any intent to fire a Senate-confirmed inspector general. [.....] Oversight of some of the government’s largest agencies was affected: the departments of Defense, State, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce and Agriculture, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, Small Business Administration and the Social Security Administration." (keep in mind that Wapo gift stories require a free registration.) Last year HUD OIG issued a scathing report on Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing and Lead Safety.
In a follow up story this AM, WaPo reports: “ 'It’s a very common thing to do,' Trump claimed to reporters on Air Force One traveling to Florida, in his first comments after a decision that caused alarm among government watchdogs and members of Congress. 'I don’t know them,' he said, even though many of those he fired were people that he appointed during his first term. 'But some people thought that some were unfair or some were not doing their job. It’s a very standard thing to do.' ” CLASH wonders who are "some people" who think that "some IGs" are unfair or not doing their jobs?
An interesting analogy: "In 1892, [President Grover] Cleveland, like Trump in 2024, was resurrected by unwavering party loyalty despite losing the previous election. Both men, separated by time but united in their disdain for the “establishment,” demanded fealty with the fervor of medieval kings suffering from lead poisoning." SOURCE: Opinion; Grover Cleveland’s presidential ‘comeback’ is a true cautionary tale for Trump. Emphasis by CLASH.
Around Cleveland
The public has access to a relatively new database of rental registrations for the City of Cleveland. With this tool, prospective tenants can get ownership information about a rental property. CLASH volunteers will be testing this new system over the next several weeks to learn more about how the city is progressing in bringing rental properties into compliance.
THE LEAD SAFE CHILD CARE PROGRAM. If you operate a Cleveland-based child care site built before 1978, the Lead Safe Child Care Program can help you prevent lead exposure in your center- or home-based facility before it's too late. Deadline: February 14th, 2025. Questions? Contact Michele King, Starting Point's Lead Safe Child Care Project Manager, at 216.575.0061 (EXT 253).
Warning sign: Cleveland continues economic stagnation due to population loss. Jan. 15, 2025. cleveland.com. Cleveland’s employment recovery among slowest in U.S., Fed report reveals. Why is this a lead issue? Stagnant growth won't support a healthy housing market--more deterioration, more lead hazards.
Around Us
New EPA Webpages for Lead Poisoning and your childen *in multiple languages and DIYers.
Jan 13, 2025. CapTimes. Study links lead contamination to aviation fuel in Dane County "New data suggests lead might have contaminated groundwater near a local airport in Dane County, reigniting a debate about selling leaded aviation fuel and whether there are viable alternatives. At least three airports in the county — Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Middleton Municipal Airport and Waunakee Airport — sell leaded fuel for small planes. Leaded fuel for cars and trucks was banned in the United States in 1996. But over 200,000 smaller planes, called piston-engine aircraft, still require leaded fuel to prevent engine troubles. The fight has been fiercest in Middleton, where local officials have pushed for years to end the use of leaded fuel. The airport is city-run but borders the town of Middleton and the town of Springfield." Do Burke Lakefront and the County Airport in Richmond Heights sell aviation gas?
Jan. 14, 2025. WWNY. Watertown listed as a “Community for Concern” Watertown is listed as one of a couple dozen cities across the state as “communities for concern” when it comes to lead poisoning. "WATERTOWN, New York - Watertown is listed as one of a couple dozen cities across the state as “communities for concern” when it comes to lead poisoning. The State’s new Lead Rental Registry program requires owners of rental homes with two or more units and built before 1980, to be inspected every three years for lead-based paint. As the name suggests, it also creates a statewide rental registry. Watertown City Council learned more about how the City will incorporate the program during a work session Monday night."
Jan 15, 2025. WISN Milwaukee student tests positive for lead poisoning after exposure in school "Milwaukee health officials and school administrators are responding after discovering lead-based paint at Golda Meir Lower Campus following a confirmed case of childhood lead poisoning. 'We treat these serious matters very, very urgently," Sean Kane, Milwaukee Public Schools Senior Director of the Department of Facilities and Maintenance Services, said.The Milwaukee Health Department told WISN 12 News it identified the case and traced the likely source to lead-based paint found in a basement bathroom at the school. The Milwaukee Public Schools Facilities and Maintenance Department is working with health officials to address the situation." CLASH has no evidence that CMSD schools have ever been tested for lead paint. We'd be glad to learn from CMSD if they have plans for testing old schools.
January 14, 2025. InsiderNJ. Murphy Administration Made Great Strides in Lead Exposure Prevention and There Is Still Time to Maximize Their Impact "Lead-Free NJ (LFNJ) Steering Committee Co-Chairs Rashan Prailow and Debbie Mans, and Lead-Free NJ Advocacy Coordinating Committee Co-chair Yvette Jordan released the following statement on Governor Murphy’s 2025 State of the State Address: During his term as Governor, Murphy’s administration has dedicated unprecedented funding and attention to lead poisoning prevention. Although NJ has set bold and visionary standards for ending childhood lead poisoning, we need sustained resources and dedication to equitable implementation to make this vision a reality. While lead was not mentioned during today’s address, preventing lead exposure is aligned with the Governor’s belief that 'nothing is more important than nurturing the growth and development of our children.' ” The Lead-Free NJ collaborative has nearly 300 members and centers Community Hubs – local grassroots organizations that advance local efforts and support statewide advocacy. The collaborative is working to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in New Jersey. For more information, please visit www.LeadFreeNJ.org or contact info@leadfreenj.org Related: CARC Awarded $14 Million Grant for Lead Remediation in NJ Funding to Provide Free Lead-Safe Repairs in Homes Across Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Atlantic Counties
January 16, 2025. Chicago Tribune. Chicago Housing Authority ordered to pay $24 million in lead poisoning lawsuit brought by two residents. "The Chicago Housing Authority must pay more than $24 million to two residents who sued over alleged lead paint poisoning of their two children, a Cook County jury decided Wednesday. The case, filed in January 2022, focused on Shanna Jordan, the mother of Jah’mir Collins, now 10, and Morgan Collins, the mother of Amiah Collins, now 6, who sued CHA, The Habitat Co., East Lake Management Group and Environmental Design International, alleging that the defendants knew their unit had lead-based paint and that their children suffered “severe lead poisoning” while living in the unit. The unit was owned by CHA and is located at 7715 N. Marshfield Ave. in Rogers Park. The property was managed by Habitat from 2016 to 2019 and then by East Lake from 2019 to 2022. Environmental Design International conducted an inspection for lead-based paint in 2017 on behalf of CHA and found lead-based paint, the suit said." Read more here: Chicago jury awards $24.1M to family after children suffer lead poisoning in CHA housing and here: Chicago Housing Authority ordered to pay more than $24 million in damages for two children's lead poisoning.
Jan 17, 2025. Investigative Post. Judge tosses lead lawsuit against Bufffalo. "A judge has dismissed a lawsuit that contended the City of Buffalo is failing to enforce a law that mandates inspection of rental units for the presence of lead paint. Partnership for the Public Good and three other community organizations filed the lawsuit last July against the city and the Department of Permits and Inspections. It claimed a failure to fully implement the rental inspections law contributed to substandard living conditions for city residents and increased risks for lead poisoning in young children. The city in October asked State Supreme Court Judge Michael Siragusa to dismiss the case, with Assistant Corporation Counsel David Lee arguing that the city was enforcing the program and that landlords were ultimately responsible for ensuring residents have clean and safe homes to live in. Siragusa on Monday granted the city’s motion to dismiss the case, siding with the argument that although the inspections were being performed slowly, city officials and inspectors were not neglecting the duties outlined for the program. Inspections are performed at the discretion of Department of Permits and Inspections Commissioner Cathy Amdur, according to court documents."
Around Us and nearby
January 14, 2025. Guardian. Revealed: US hazardous waste is sent to Mexico – where a ‘toxic cocktail’ of pollution emerges. "A Guardian and Quinto Elemento Lab investigation finds very high levels of lead and arsenic in homes near a factory processing US toxic waste. Samples taken by wiping the home’s indoor window sills found lead, which is neurotoxic, at levels 60 times higher than the level at which the US says action should be taken to fix the problem to avoid health consequences." CLASH calls to your attention that one of the US sources identified in the story is the Republic Steel plant in Canton Ohio, which was shutdown in 2024. Ohio’s U.S. Senators want to stop surge of Mexican steel imports details efforts to block the shutdown of the Canton plant while US and Ohio EPA were suing the plant owners. Meanwhile Canton residents are glad the mill is gone.
Around Cleveland
January 6, 2025. Signal Cleveland. The City of Cleveland rolls out new home repair application. "For the first time, homeowners can submit one application to be considered for four separate home repair programs." Why is this a lead story? Many Cleveland property owners can qualify for funding that fits into their lead remediation plans.
January 7, 2025. Signal Cleveland. Sherwin-Williams to fix fire protection problem on new headquarters. "The company told Cleveland recently that the anti-fire coating on some of the skyscraper’s steel beams is too thin. Sherwin-Williams would not say if the issue will further delay the opening of the taxpayer-supported building." CLASH wonders: So what are the ingredients in this "coating" and who makes the coating and where is it made? Less tongue in cheek-see below
Around Us--School Water--pipes or fixtures
Jan. 06, 2025. SYRACUSE.COM Drinking water in Syracuse schools fails lead tests over and over. There’s a better way to keep kids safe. "In the latest round of testing, lead levels exceeded the state’s safety limit in fixtures at nearly every Syracuse school, a Syracuse.com investigation has found. Across 33 buildings, water in 138 sinks and 36 water fountains tested too high for lead. One of every 10 fixtures failed the lead test, according to the Syracuse.com analysis. Schools in New York state are required to test building water for lead every three years. The district has managed to bring the lead levels down to a safe amount in every building. Staff replaced different parts of fixtures or installed new ones. [.....] Often, though, it’s unclear where the lead is coming from or what change will fix it. Some fixtures are repaired and retested two or three times before they reach a safe level. The patchwork response leaves kids vulnerable in the years between required testing. When did a fountain become dangerous in the three years between tests? How many kids drank that water while the district waited for the next round of testing? The district appears to be following state recommendations and requirements to fix the problem, but experts say it’s only the bare minimum. Tests may be unreliable, they say, and students could be left drinking lead-contaminated water even after fixtures are updated. Best practices in other states show the solution is simple and affordable. Instead of Syracuse’s “test and tell” practice, experts say the district should install centralized bottle filling stations and fountains with “point of use” filters – 1 for every 100 students. For the school population in Syracuse, that would cost about $500,000, according to equipment estimates from the Natural Resources Defense Council." A well researched story with no clear answers. Read more on Lead in Schools
Around Us--Lead in baby food
January 6, 2025. CNN. FDA disappoints child advocates with its new limit on lead in baby food. "For the first time in history, the US Food and Drug Administration has established guidance for levels of lead in processed baby foods that are sold on supermarket shelves and online. The agency’s action, announced Monday, only provides guidance to industry and is not enforceable. Under the new guidelines, baby food manufacturers should have no more than 10 parts per billion of lead in baby yogurts, custards, puddings, single-ingredient meats, processed fruits and vegetables, and mixtures of fruits, vegetables, grains and meat."
January 6, 2025. Center for Science in the Public Interest. FDA issues final guidance for lead action levels in baby food. We hope that FDA, with Congress's help, will act more quickly and decisively as it continues its work on the Closer to Zero program. CSPI further encourages states to step in, following the lead of California and Maryland, which have both passed laws requiring manufacturers to test baby food products for heavy metals and disclose the results. These laws help to fill the gaps in federal laws and regulations that have allowed heavy metal-contaminated products on store shelves for too long."
Jan. 7, 2025 U.S. News & World Report Health Advocates Are Unhappy with FDA Guidance on Lead Levels in Baby Food. " Yet the new guidance does not cover many other products, such as infant formula, beverages, or snack foods like puffs and teething biscuits. “Nearly all baby foods on the market already comply with these limits," Jane Houlihan, research director of Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF), told CNN. HBBF is a coalition of advocates committed to reducing babies’ exposures to neurotoxic chemicals. Houlihan said the newly released FDA guidelines were ineffective -- not to mention unenforceable."
Around Us--Immigrant Communities
January 08, 2025. American Public Health Association. A Public Health‒Community Partnership to Address Lead Poisoning in King County, Washington. "To strengthen lead poisoning prevention efforts among Afghan children, King County, Washington’s Hazardous Waste Management Program partnered with Afghan Health Initiative, a community-based organization. The partnership arranged culturally tailored home visits and follow-ups, in which a health environment investigator and a community health advocate identified lead exposure risks and offered parents guidance. The involvement of an Afghan-led organization significantly increased community responsiveness and case management opportunities, demonstrating how public health‒community collaborations can address health challenges disproportionately affecting refugees and immigrants. Refugee children resettled in the United States have higher average blood lead levels (BLLs) than US-born children.1–4 This disparity stems from pre- and postmigration circumstances. BLLs of newly arrived refugee children strongly correlate with country of origin or last residence,1–4 reflecting known global variance in childhood lead exposure.5 After arrival, refugee children may face further exposure risks if they are resettled into older housing with lead-based paint or plumbing, or if their families unintentionally use lead-contaminated imports like cookware, jewelry, cosmetics, traditional remedies, spices, and toys."
CLICK Here For more information on Lead Hazards in immigrant communities
Around Us--Enforcement of Lead Safe Standards
January 7, 2025. EPA Penalizes Four Missouri Home Renovators for Lead-Based Paint Violations. "Four Missouri home renovation companies have agreed to collectively pay over $27,000 in penalties to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resolve alleged violations of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to EPA, the following companies failed to comply with regulations that reduce the hazards of lead-based paint exposure during renovations: [.....] EPA says that each of these companies performed renovations on properties built prior to 1978 without obtaining renovator certification from EPA, as required by federal law. Other violations included failure to retain and produce required records and failure to follow lead-safe work practices during renovations." Given expected changes in US Attorney and EPA enforcement departments, the City of Cleveland may have to become pro-active in enforcement of RRP standards under the Cleveland Lead Safe Certificate program.
1/10/2025. Baltimore Banner. Nearly 100 Baltimore-area homes deemed ‘lead-free’ might contain lead. "Dozens of Baltimore-area properties certified as free of lead-based paint in the past two years still may be chock full of the toxic metal, which is capable of irreversibly damaging a child’s cognitive development. According to a recent lawsuit filed by the Maryland Department of the Environment, a Baltimore-based lead inspection firm called Green Environmental illegally assessed properties, altered the results of dust sample tests, and used unlicensed and unregistered equipment to issue lead-free certificates. Such documents represent an all-clear for the properties and their landlords. With lead-free certificates in hand, owners aren’t required to test those properties for lead paint ever again."
Around Europe-not really "news" just a new study
6 Jan 2025 Guardian. Roman Empire’s use of lead lowered IQ levels across Europe, study finds. "Apart from sanitation, medicines, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what did the Romans ever do for us? asks an exasperated Reg in Monty Python’s Life of Brian. One answer, according to a new study, is widespread cognitive decline across Europe, courtesy of the vast quantities of lead pollution churned out by the booming metals industry that shaped the empire. Researchers have said the massive expansion of mining and the processing of metal ores in particular caused airborne lead pollution to soar during the peak of the empire, leading to an estimated 2- to 3-point drop in IQ across the land." Thanks Yvonka. More here:
January 8, 2025 WaPo. Roman Empire’s lead pollution was high enough to lower IQs, study says. "Silver fueled the rise of the Roman Empire as its coin-based currency accelerated trade, filled tax coffers and funded military conquests. But the empire’s mining and extracting of silver was also releasing so much lead into the air that it was probably making the population slightly stupider, one study has found." (Wapo gift articles require a free registration. Just delete the ads that follow) Thanks Molly for the lede (not lead).
January 2025. NIEHS [National Institute of Environmental Health Studies] Focus. Keystone lecturer tells story of lead poisoning research. "Well known for his influential work on the neurotoxicity of low-level lead exposure, Bruce Lanphear, M.D., said he now believes storytelling is the most critical tool we need to protect people from toxic chemicals and pollutants. 'We absolutely will always need science, but we need to be able to communicate the science,' he said in his Nov. 18 Keystone Science Lecture at NIEHS." Why is this a CLASH story? CLASH is a sub-awardee for an NIEHS grant to the University of Arizona. We call the project Report Back because the goal is to translate the research we conducted in 2022-23 on Barriers to Childhood Lead Poisoning. Under the new grant CLASH and UofAZ will be feeding back the results of the study to the communities that provided the data. Story telling is just one of the tools we'll be testing.
Around Cleveland--Quick! Lets build more sports stadiums
Jan. 02, 2025. More than half of children in this Cuyahoga County city are in poverty - new census estimates. "Cleveland’s child poverty rate is 45.3%, the ninth highest in the state and the highest for any city in the United States with a population over 300,000. Detroit (44.2%) and Memphis (34.7%) follow."
Around Cleveland--Other news
January 2, 2025. Ideastream Public Media. Cuyahoga County Council picks a new president, swears in 3 new members. "Cuyahoga County Council picked a new president and held a swearing-in ceremony, with three new council members taking their seats on the 11-member body. [......] Miller laid out a long list of priorities for his two-year term: improving call center service; protecting children; making housing and mental health care more affordable; increasing economic opportunity; improving health care and education; eliminating disparities; and reducing violence, opiate fatalities and lead poisoning." CLASH congratulates Dale Miller in his new position and welcomes his attention to Lead Poisoning as a county priority.
Jan. 05, 2025. Cleveland.com. New Year’s resolutions for our political leaders and others: editorial. "Ohio and local politicians: Resolve to remember the children and always budget accordingly. Too many Cleveland kids still suffer life-altering lead poisoning when young, stunting minds and growth, and too many remain mired in poverty that deprives them of adequate food, shelter and safety -- sometimes, even, of their lives. Resolve to support First Year Cleveland and the other initiatives locally and statewide aimed at ending the too-high, preventable maternal and infant mortality that disproportionately impacts women and infants of color locally and in Ohio." Thanks Andre for the link
Around Us--Lead Water Line Reports
December 29, 2024. MyChesCo Wilmington Tackles Lead with Cutting-Edge Service Line Mapping—A National Model in the Making. "Forget the past – Wilmington is rewriting its water infrastructure’s future. The City, in partnership with Wilmington Water and the University of Delaware Water Resources Center, is leading the charge against lead contamination with its groundbreaking Service Line Inventory Map. This ambitious initiative not only ensures Wilmington’s compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) revised Lead and Copper Rule, but it also positions the city as a beacon of progress for public health and infrastructure reform." FWIW. Cleveland Water Department has sent letters to homeowners about possible lead lines and has posted a new map of lead lines, but no public statement.
Around Us-Lead and Mental Health Impacts
December 28, 2024. SciTech Daily. 151 Million People Affected: New Study Reveals That Leaded Gas Permanently Damaged American Mental Health. "New research reveals that childhood exposure to lead, peaking from 1960 to 1990 due to leaded gasoline, has significantly contributed to mental health issues and personality changes. By 2015, researchers estimate 151 million excess mental disorders were attributable to lead exposure, with the greatest impact on Generation X, highlighting the long-term consequences of environmental exposures. Childhood lead exposure from leaded gasoline has caused widespread mental health issues, particularly in Generation X, highlighting the dangers of delayed environmental regulation. A recent study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry reveals that childhood exposure to lead, which reached its highest levels between 1960 and 1990 in many industrialized nations due to leaded gasoline use, has adversely affected mental health. This exposure is likely linked to numerous cases of mental illness and changes in personality."
Around Us--Child Lead Testing
December 30, 2024. WGIL Health officials: New intervention level aims to catch lead poisoning early. "The Knox County [Illinois] Health Department has announced that as of Jan. 1, the new lead intervention level will go from 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to 3.5 µg/dL. This change is to catch lead poisoning early to help prevent long term effects for children and remove or control exposure. [.....] Children who test at or above 3.5 µg/dL will be contacted and receive a scheduled home visit from the Health Department Lead Nurse and Risk Assessor to learn ways to lower the blood lead level, reduce lead exposure, and conduct a home inspection to find the source(s) of the child’s lead exposure. If a home has lead, the owner will receive a notice, and they will be asked to remove the lead from their home as quickly as possible, with a follow-up inspection from the health department to make sure that the lead was removed entirely." More here: Jan 1, 2025 Stricter lead testing rules for children take effect in Illinois. Interesting! In Ohio, health departments are not required to do a home inspection until children's BLL are 10 micrograms/deciliter or higher.
Around Us--Heavy metals in Baby Food
December 31, 2024. LA Times via Yahoo. California baby food labels will soon reveal levels of lead and mercury in their products. "Beginning Wednesday, baby food makers that sell products in California will have to make a major shift toward transparency and provide a QR code on their packaging that takes consumers to test results for the presence in their product of four heavy metals: lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. [.....] The change, required under a California law passed by the Legislature in 2023, will impact consumers nationwide. Because companies are unlikely to create separate packaging for the California market, QR codes are likely to be present on products sold across the country, and consumers everywhere will be able to view the heavy metal concentrations." This story contains a great deal of information about lead contamination in children's food.
Around Us -- Financial assistance for Lead Remediation
Dec 31, 2024 Michigan's Thumb MDHHS and Michigan Saves launch program to help with lead abatement costs "Homeowners, property owners, and landlords who aren’t eligible for free local or state lead abatement services may not be out of luck.The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with Michigan Saves to create the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund. This program provides a 50/50 loan match program for those described above. Michigan Saves is the nation’s first nonprofit green bank. The organization has been around for approximately 10 years." More on this story here: New Michigan program will cover half the cost of lead abatement for eligible families
Around Us -- Lead Safe Registry
Jan 2, 2025. News 10.com New York launching lead paint rental registry. "State seeks public comment on safety efforts targeting pre-1980 construction. As the New York State Department of Health (DOH) prepares to implement new measures to address lead poisoning, they’re seeking public feedback. The new lead rental registry, designed to protect kids from exposure to lead, will require inspections for and tracking of rentals in buildings built before 1980. [.....] The lead rental registry built on a successful model used in Rochester. It’s part of a broader $120 million initiative to eliminate lead statewide. According to the state’s analysis, every dollar spent on preventing lead poisoning saves $25 to $327 in healthcare and education costs."
Around Us-Lead in Consumer Products
January 2, 2025. Consumer Products Safety Commission press release. Yaomiao Children’s Jewelry Sets Recalled Due to Risk of Lead and Cadmium Poisoning; Violations of the Federal Lead Content Ban and Federal Hazardous Substances Act; Sold Exclusively on Amazon by LordRoads
December 2024
CLASH News
Happier new year in 2025. This year It takes you to tango. Make your year end donation to CLASH. Don't take our word for it. In his new book Where We Live, local historian Randy Cunningham says CLASH is "...one of the most successful grassroots initiatives in the recent history of Cleveland.
Around Us
December 23, 2024. Vermont Public. Vermont's lead poisoning prevention program reports increased testing but officials remain concerned "In Vermont, children ages 1 and 2 are required to be tested for lead, while children between ages 3 and 6 are required to be tested only if they had not been tested previously. The percentage of 1 and 2-year-olds who received a lead blood test reached an all time high in 2023. But public officials remain concerned about the number of kids who had dangerous levels of lead in their blood. [.....] According to the annual Lead Poisoning Prevention report, the percentage of 2-year-olds who received a test jumped from 66.7% in 2022 to 82.6% in 2023. And the percentage of 1-year-olds who had a test increased from 78% to 86.3%. Previous to last year, blood level testing rates had never reached higher than 82% among 1-year-olds and 74% among 2-year-olds. The Health Department’s Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Manager, Kelly LaMonda, said the state has been increasing its communications with pediatricians, and following up when the results are not forwarded."
December 25, 2024. Maryland Matters. Cities, states say they’ll need more help to replace millions of lead pipes "A new federal rule will require water utilities across the country to pull millions of lead drinking water pipes out of the ground and replace them, at a cost of billions of dollars. States, cities and water utilities agree that the lead pipes need to go to ensure safe water for residents. But they say they may struggle to do so in the 10-year window required under the rule, and they fear some ratepayers will be hit with massive cost increases to pay for the work. State officials are urging Congress to provide ongoing funding for the lead replacement effort. Local leaders say they’ll need lots of help to meet the deadline. And environmental advocates are calling on states to issue bonds or provide other financial support to water utilities."
27 Dec 2024. CDC via YouTube. Lead-Free Communities Initiative: The Road to Lead Exposure Elimination
Around Cleveland
Candlelight vigil remembers Clevelanders who died while experiencing homelessness. In his remarks to the crowd, Cleveland Health Director, Dr. David Margolius cited the recent case of dramatic changes to the City's Lead Program as an example of the short attention span given by the media to community crises that affect low income Clevelanders. His point: without constant awareness efforts, the issues of the poor like homelessness and lead poisoning are quickly forgotten.
Dec. 23, 2024. cleveland.com Thousands of Cleveland landlords are about to get hit with a hefty fine. "Thousands of landlords ignoring code violations in Cleveland could be getting a special gift from the city’s inspectors to start 2025: a $200 fine. The city’s Building and Housing department is preparing to use its new civil ticketing system, designed to financially punish property owners who break the rules. Director Sally Martin O’Toole told City Council members that the first order of business is to blanket issue fines to 'everybody who has not registered a rental property but should have.' Cleveland has long had a problem with landlords who are supposed to register rental units with the city, but don’t. City officials say the first round of tickets will include 4,000 to 6,000 properties.
Around US: most of the stories are variations on older stories.
A CLASHer Has A Question
A CLASHer asks: "I'm wondering if you know how we could go about testing our water for lead? OH EPA? Local water department? Appreciate any tips!" We provided a link to Cleveland Water Department's home sampling program.
CLASH's lead professional listserv suggested Accurate Analytical Testing in Michigan. Any other thoughts?
Worth a thought
Dec 17, 2024. Santa Barbara Independent. Money Talks: Self-Driving Cars, Lead Gas, Hidden Data Companies Will No Longer Have to Report Traffic Deaths. "Lead was finally only taken out of our engines by the tragic Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969. President Nixon visited our oil-soaked beaches and decided to establish the Environmental Protection Agency. A year later, Congress passed the Clean Air Act of 1970. This new law mandated that by 1975, every newly manufactured car must have a catalytic converter built into it. The problem for the Ethyl Corporation was that their lead additive also killed the catalytic converters and caused cars to die at the gas pump. The result was that, finally, unleaded gasoline became what we put in our cars. The point is that greed will always prevail if you leave the safety and governance of things as ubiquitous as cars to be determined by corporations. The result is massive profit for the companies and massive suffering for the rest of us." WOW...the stuff you never knew.
Around CLASH
It's not us! The Cleveland.com headline "Lead Safety Advocates say..." (see link below) is not about CLASH. The PD/Cleve.com story is about the Cleveland Lead Safe Advisory Board. CLASH has asked the PD/Cleveland.com to make a correction. Follow the discussion here.
CLASH will have more to say about the Lead Safe Advisory Board (LSAB) meeting in another space. Here's the takeaway. The Do-Nothing LSAB has spent 5 years ignoring the failure of the program and now that the Mayor has stepped up with a plan that CLASH recommended five years ago, LSAB members have their shorts in a twist that they weren't consulted.
Around Cleveland--Push back from Lead Safe Advisory Board
Dec. 12, 2024. cleveland.com. Lead safety advocates say Cleveland was unprepared when it pivoted to stricter rules for landlords. "Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s October decision to impose stricter lead safety inspections on rental homes was abrupt, leaving the city unprepared to implement the changes, members of the city’s Lead Safe Advisory Board said Thursday. The executive order, which mandates more rigorous testing before homes can be deemed safe, followed troubling data showing that Cleveland’s lead-safe law, enacted five years ago, has failed to protect young children from lead paint exposure. [.....] Thursday’s Lead Safe Advisory Board meeting became an airing of grievances between board members and city officials. During much of the meeting, board members debated whether to sign and send a letter to the mayor, laying out several of their issues, including the lack of data and the abrupt implementation of the executive order. The board ultimately decided not to send the letter, though Bibb’s administrators listened in on their debate and answered questions about many of the issues in the letter."
December 12, 2024. Signal Cleveland. Cleveland ‘unprepared’ for sudden change in approach to lead paint, council member says. "That uncertainty led the chair of the city’s Lead-Safe Advisory Board to suggest City Hall was “fundamentally unprepared” to make the changes laid out in Bibb’s order. The order raised the standards that landlords must meet to obtain a city certificate saying that their properties are safe from lead paint and can be rented to tenants. Meanwhile, city officials said stagnant childhood lead poisoning rates showed that urgent changes were necessary. The city’s data analytics office plans to set up a new portal for lead-safe applications in January."
Elsewhere Around Cleveland
December 9, 2024 Center for Community Solution. From lead-safe to lead abatement: tackling lead-based properties in Cleveland. FWIW: CCS was invited to support CLASH's 2019 campaign to enact the Cleveland Lead Safe Certificate program...all CLASH got was worthless advice, thanks CCS.
Dec. 15, 2024. Cleveland.com. Cleveland fails to invest in its people while giving millions to profitable sports teams "Re: 20 million more taxpayer dollars for billionaire owned sports teams? When does this madness stop? After decades of “trickle down” economic development lies and lavish taxpayer subsidies to billionaire-owned sports franchises, private equity investors and real estate developers, Cleveland remains one of the poorest big cities in the United States with underfunded public schools, unsafe streets, kids still being poisoned by lead and a lack of affordable housing." Thanks to Arthur Hargate.
Around Ohio
December 10, 2024 91.7 WVXU Everything you need to know about lead water pipes in Cincinnati. The story title says it all.
Around Us
December 9, 2024, WHAS11 via YouTube, City of Louisville now requires led testing inspections in rental homes, Thanks Zak Here's more coverage:
Louisville Courier Journal. Louisville housing registry aimed at child lead exposure takes effect. Here's how it works. "A landmark law to proactively address lead-based paint in Louisville rental properties is taking effect this month, aiming to protect thousands of children from a potent neurotoxin. The ordinance requires property owners to register rental properties built before 1978 into a Lead-Safe Housing Registry. These housing units must complete a lead-hazard risk assessment with a state-certified inspector, and property owners will have to address any lead hazards or face penalties. The registry is now open to property owners' submissions, officials with Louisville's Department of Public Health and Wellness announced Monday. 'Louisville Metro has a lot of older homes and historic homes where lead-based paints still exist,' said Connie Mendel, the department's chief health strategist, and the registry marks 'a giant step' in preventing childhood lead exposure cases before they happen."
December 14, 2024. Wapo. Worried about lead pipes? Here’s what to do. "Water pipes are among the main sources of childhood lead exposure. Identifying and replacing these hidden hazards can be a challenge." (note: gift articles from WaPo require a no-cost registration--sorry it's their rules, not ours.)
KOCO 5 Oklahoma City via MSN Perkins officials are urging residents to test their water after routine inspections revealed elevated lead levels earlier this year. "The city of Perkins released information stating that elevated lead levels were found in city drinking water from routine testing conducted between Jan. 1 and June 30."
Dec 10, 2024 Investigative Post, Buffalo schools replacing lead poisoning risks "Buffalo’s challenge to address lead poisoning of children includes cleaning up contaminated water sources in city schools. Lead in school water isn’t a result of lead pipes leading from streets or in the buildings, but plumbing fixtures, school officials said. Testing conducted in 2022 and 2023 revealed 237 fixtures, including water fountains, with lead levels above current state limits, Investigative Post found."
Watch more here: Buffalo Schools replacing lead poisoning risks
12/9/2024. West Virginia Department of Health WIC Program Partners with Lead Poisoning Prevention Program to Expand Testing. "The West Virginia Department of Health’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program is proud to announce a successful partnership with the department’s Office of Maternal, Child, and Family Health (OMCFH) that is boosting lead testing efforts in Harrison, Marion, Monongalia and Ohio counties. This initiative, which leverages Medicaid Quality Improvement funding, aims to expand access to lead testing for vulnerable populations and improve health outcomes for children across the region. Since August 2024, WIC clinics in Ohio, Monongalia and Marion Counties have joined Harrison County in offering lead testing. In just three months, these counties collectively performed more than 353 lead tests, with 56 already completed in November alone. This builds on Harrison County's two-year track record of offering lead testing, a program initiated in response to the 2021 water crisis."
December 11, 2024 NYT. I Went Down a Lead-Testing Rabbit Hole. Here’s What You Need to Know About Home Tests. "Unfortunately, if you are curious or concerned about lead being in something you own, most home-testing options are limited. Tests—even those recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency—have been difficult to use, prone to user error, and expensive per test. But what if an instant, easy-to-use, precise, and readily available test existed, one that allowed users to conduct literally hundreds of tests at a much lower cost than traditional methods? I had this question until I came upon a method that produces a neon-green glow when the metal is present."
Stay tuned! CLASH has been in touch LeadDetectives in Toledo about a DIY product that he has been testing. We'll have more info on his experience in a future issue of Stay in Touch
December 10, 2024. Stanford University Stanford Experts Sound Alarm on “Remarkably Harmful Toxin” "A new U.S. plan to remove lead pipes underscores lead’s persistent risks, with researchers calling for global measures to reduce exposure, especially in vulnerable communities. The U.S. aims to replace lead pipes to combat ongoing exposure risks. Researchers stress urgent action on policies and alternatives to curb global lead contamination."
Around Us--Nothing gets the attention of scofflaws than enforcement.
Dec. 10, 2024 Times Tribune Judge holds Scranton landlord in contempt for abatement in apartment where tenant claims 2-year-old daughter got lead poisoning "In a lawsuit by a mother claiming her 2-year-old daughter was poisoned from lead paint in their apartment at 961 Wheeler Ave., a judge on Tuesday sanctioned the landlord for contempt for failing to remove the toxic element. Lackawanna County Judge James Gibbons granted a “motion for contempt” by plaintiff Kathleen Mulholland and ordered a receiver to assume management and control of the apartment building, including collecting its rents and 'attaching' a landlord bank account for use in performing lead abatement." The latest news from a long running story. Visit Lead in the News for previous stories.
December 13, 2024. Press Release United States Obtains Consent Decree Against Lilmor Management, Morris Lieberman, And Others To Abate Lead Paint And Improve Housing Conditions Across More Than 2,500 Apartments In Largely Low And Moderate-Income Neighborhoods. "Among other things, the U.S. and the State of New York allege that the Defendants’ apartments are riddled with peeling lead paint and lead dust; infested by rats, mice, and roaches; damp from perpetual leaks and covered with growing mold; and otherwise a danger to human health. More than 130 children living in the Defendants’ apartments have tested positive for elevated blood-lead levels since 2012.
Dec 11, 2024. Steve Ahlquist/Substack. As noisy, negligent, and noncompliant landlords complain about decades-old laws, children continue to be poisoned "Alison Fonseca, Policy and Legislative Counsel for the Rhode Island Attorney General, testified before the Special Legislative Commission to Study the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act last Thursday. At issue were complaints from what Fonseca called 'a few noisy, negligent, and noncompliant landlords who are willing to risk the health and safety of our children rather than follow some common sense health and safety laws.' "
CLASH news
Nov. 26, 2024. cleveland.com. ‘Carved up’ like Thanksgiving turkey: Slavic Village councilwoman accuses president of gerrymandering. "In a stunning speech on the floor of City Council chambers Monday night, Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer blasted council’s redistricting process as “gerrymandering,” and accused President Blaine Griffin of targeting her home in particular." CLASHers will be attending the City Council meeting on Monday December 2nd to show our support for Councilwoman Maurer. Lila says:"I wish I could be there! This is good trouble
Nov. 29, 2024 cleveland.com. Blaine Griffin’s negative comments about Ward 12 Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer. "These statements contradict my experience as her constituent. Councilwoman Maurer is deeply committed to our community. She listens to residents, organizes cleanups, supports small businesses, has committed funding to improve commercial corridors, and hosts multiple State of the Ward events. While I haven’t agreed with every decision she’s made, I respect her thoughtful and compassionate approach to representing us. Griffin and others should engage with Ward 12 constituents to understand why we value her leadership." A Better Cleveland for All will be there too.
Around Cleveland
Nov. 27, 2024. OPINION. We are a community united against lead poisoning. Our mission continues: Mitchell Balk and Sharon Sobol Jordan. "The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition stands united against Cleveland’s lead poisoning crisis, which endangers the health and future of our children. The coalition has brought together leaders across public, private, and community sectors, committed to collaboration and innovation to tackle this deeply entrenched issue."
November 27, 2024. The Land. Experts weigh in: Are better lead testing and abatement efforts the key to prevent poisoning in Cleveland children? "Cleveland’s city government is revising its dual-department approach to addressing local cases of lead poisoning. The goal is to enact stricter testing measures to help better identify which owners still need to rid properties of the toxic metal. Three years into Cleveland’s rollout of its citywide Lead Safe Certification initiative, Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration is working on a new model that would commit to more thorough lead removal procedures in the hopes of improving city processes."
The Lead Safe Advisory Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, December 12, 2024, from 1:00pm to 2:30pm at Cleveland City Hall, Room 509. A virtual option for the meeting is available at this link: https://cityclevelandoh.webex.com/cityclevelandoh/j.php?MTID=m3e77cccbe6cae504e6eb8f380ddf028a
Around Us.
November 28, 2024. Erie Times-News. Could Erie see testing for lead-based paint become part of rental registration program? "Other municipalities nationwide have mandated testing for lead-based paint as part of their rental registration/inspection programs for properties. The city of Erie’s rental registration program currently does not require units to be tested for the presence of lead-based paint. Aaron Snippert, the executive director of the Erie Redevelopment Authority, would like that to change. Snippert wants Erie City Council to consider amending the rental registration program’s rules to include “some kind of lead testing component” as part of Erie’s efforts to combat the presence of lead paint in homes citywide."
Around Us: Citizen Action
November 26, 2024 Random Lengths news. Watts Launches Door-Knocking Campaign to Raise Awareness and Promote Free Lead Testing "LOS ANGELES — Councilmember Tim McOsker, in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Mayor Karen Bass, the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, and the East Side Riders Bike Club, Nov. 23 announced the launch of a door-to-door water testing awareness campaign aimed at engaging residents across Watts. The initiative seeks to inform the community about free water testing for lead, following findings from the Better Watts Initiative study. [.....] 'We’re proud to be partnering with the East Side Riders Bike Club to go door-knocking in Watts, making sure every resident knows about LADWP’s free water quality testing,' said Councilmember Tim McOsker. 'Everyone deserves access to safe water, but equally important, they deserve the peace of mind knowing that their water is truly safe. Together with community partners, we’re working directly with residents to ensure they’re informed and empowered to take action for their health and well-being.' ”
December 1, 2024. Wapo. In the town Erin Brockovich made famous, residents still fear dirty water. "An ongoing struggle in Hinkley, California, to remove dangerous chemicals from drinking water demonstrates how difficult contamination can be to clean up. [.....] Every single time one of these environmental disasters happens, it's always a pissed off mom that rises up. Every. Single. Time.”
Around Us-The letters keep coming as Water Departments comply with new Lead and Copper Rule requirements.
November 26, 2024. Fox6 News. Wisconsin lead contamination; woman speaks out after son gets poisoning. "Dejah Holliman is one of many people to receive letters across the state. It's part of a new EPA rule that requires water utilities to inform home and building owners. But after the lead blood test results came back for her son, she's hoping to help him and help other parents. 'If I am going to do this the right way, I am going to have to get a filter,' Holliman said. 'So I ended up getting it this weekend.' It was less than a month and a half ago when Holliman and her son moved into their new apartment in Racine. Holliman received a letter from the city, warning her about the possibility of lead service lines in her home. 'I actually got the letter recently, probably in the beginning of November,' she said. 'Now it is kind of different because I have to go out of my way to buy water bottles. I have to use the water filter.' " Watch it here.
Around Us--Immigrant Households especially impacted
11/25/2024 Minneapolis Post. We can curb the lead exposure that continues to harm immigrant communities. "Minneapolis could help by adopting stricter policies, such as mandatory lead inspections for rental units. As an advocate working with these communities, I witness firsthand the harmful effects of lead poisoning on families, especially children. Lead exposure, which causes developmental delays, learning difficulties and severe health problems, remains a serious issue in older Minneapolis homes. Immigrant families often face barriers in the housing market — such as lack of credit history, little rental history, low-paying jobs and language barriers — that limit their access to safer, affordable housing. Landlords are slow to respond, and the city struggles to enforce remediation."
November 2024
CLASH News
CLASH met with over 100 participants on Friday at Outhwaite Homes gymnasium. About 1/2 were CMHA employees; the other half were reps from CMHA Local Advisory Councils. Andre and Darrick did a presentation on CLASH's campaign for lead safety in CMHA. We got some sign ups (from CMHA staff and resident leaders) and a commitment from Lillian Davis of Progressive Action Council to begin scheduling follow ups in the New Year. CMHA's CEO Jeffery Patterson came by the CLASH table, thanked us for being at the meeting.
Later on Friday, CLASH volunteers met with Emily Collins of the Mayor's staff and Dr. David Margolius, director of Cleveland Department of Public Health to share concerns about the Mayor's Executive Order on Lead Safe Certificates. CLASH is in support of the Mayor's move to use Lead Risk Assessments to give a more thorough analysis of lead hazards, before owners take steps to implement controls that will prevent exposure. The rest of the two hour meeting was exchanging ideas about the details of the program so that the city can build on the existing efforts...rather than start again from scratch. More discussions are planned.
Around Ohio
NOV 19, 2024. vindy.com Youngstown to create lead-based paint board. "With more than 1,000 residential rental properties believed to have lead-based paint, the city is moving forward with creating a board to help enforce the removal of the harmful products. When city council approved an ordinance on July 31, 2023, to create an ordinance addressing lead-based paint, the goal was to have all residential rental properties be lead-free in five years."
November 18, 2024. Press Release. Important Notice from Public Utilities (still no press release from Cleveland Water Department...or did we miss it?)
So long for now Rep. Merrin. Remember: Budget amendment would strip cities of authority to address lead poisoning
Around Us
November 18, 2024. StateLine. Cities, states say they’ll need more help to replace millions of lead pipes. "A new federal rule gives water utilities 10 years to replace lead service lines." Good overview of the lead pipe replacement challenge.
November 18, 2024 11Alive. Testing for lead in school drinking water | What we found. "Leaders with the Georgia Department of Education and Department of Early Care and Learning told 11Alive many facilities are too afraid of what they might find. Three years after the federal government set aside money for Georgia schools and childcare centers to test their water for lead, a majority still haven't. 11Alive News Investigates analyzed the data and found as of November 2024, just 15% of Georgia's schools have completed water testing through the grant funded program. Only 3% of childcare centers have."
Around Us -- Citizens demand action.
Nov 19, 2024. WKBW 'This is a much bigger infrastructural problem': High levels of lead found in yards on Buffalo's East Side. "Open Buffalo, the Massachusetts Avenue Project and Citizen Science Community Resources revealed soil testing results, showing that many yards on Buffalo's East Side have high lead levels. 'The cleanup line, which is just a guideline, is 200 parts per million, and for 95% of the sample, it was over 200 ppm. Some were in the thousands,' said Jackie James, Founder of the Citizen Science Community Resources. James was part of a community meeting to warn neighbors about what is in their soil. The organizations also walked through what the readings mean. 'It can be inundating at times, but the first way to combat this lead problem is to be aware of it. To let folks know that we are here to support them and show them how to stay safe,' said James. The high lead levels are believed to be from the GM American Axle Plant, and these four organizations hope the city will take action."
Nov 19, 2024. KXLF. Butte nun forms watchdog group to ensure proper lead cleanup in Butte. "After the news came out in September that the EPA is proposing changes to the action levels of cleanup of heavy metals like lead, a new activist group led by a local nun is calling on the community to add their voices to make sure that the agency follows through with the proposed plans. 'Time is of the essence. It has been too long and people have suffered from it and they need to have their rights protected and they need to have their health protected. They deserve to have a clean environment here. They don’t have to live with this for another 40 years,' says Sister Mary Jo McDonald."
Nov. 20, 2024. Spectrum News. How those impacted by lead poisoning in Cleveland are working to make a difference "In 1999, Robin Brown founded Collective Citizens Organized Against Lead (CCOAL) after her daughter got lead poisoning from their home. Through CCOAL, Brown has created a community of those directly impacted by lead in Northeast Ohio. They distribute information to their neighbors, advocate for better protections against lead and provide a place for parents to turn when their child is poisoned. While most of the people who join their coalition have already been impacted by lead, Brown encourages people to get informed and involved before it’s too late. 'When you cannot protect your child, you feel like a failure,' said Robin Brown, founder of Collective Citizens Organized Against Lead (CCOAL). She founded the group after her daughter’s diagnosis of severe lead poisoning from their home in 1999."
Around Us--Syracuse responds to citizen disorder
November 22, 2024. WAER New test results show no cause for alarm about lead levels in Syracuse water. "About two dozen people gathered earlier this month to express concern about high levels of lead in Syracuse water based on flawed test samples. New test results show Syracuse’s drinking water meets federal lead standards. The news should ease the concerns of those who’ve called for the city to declare a state of emergency over previous but flawed sampling that showed high levels of lead."
Nov. 22, 2024, Syracuse.com. Onondaga County’s top doctor has lead pipes. Her kids drink the water. Here’s her advice for Syracuse.
November 22, 2024. WSYR Syracuse via Yahoo. Latest lead tests show City of Syracuse drinking water meets EPA safety standards.
Around Us-Poverty in the Lead Belt
Top 10 Places With the Lowest Median Income. A new study shows low income cities abound in the Lead Belt. Just a coincidence?
Around CLASH
Cleveland Heights Lead Safe Fair was a goldilocks event. Busy enough that we never got bored, but not so busy that we had plenty of time to answer questions and discuss lead safety options. Thanks to Zach Ravanelli for providing space for CLASH at the event and thanks to Molly and Chantal for tabling. We were busy enough that everyone forgot to take pictures.
Around Cleveland
CLASH has reached out to Mayor Bibb's staff to discuss his new Executive Order on Lead Safe Certificates. We're pleased that the Mayor is moving the program back to our original (2016) strategy...but we have some concerns about implementation.
CLASH will be meeting with the CMHA Progressive Action Council (PAC) to talk about ways that CLASH can provide lead safety information to CMHA tenants.
Around Ohio
November 13, 2024. IdeaStream. Is replacing Ohio’s lead lines worth the multi-billion-dollar price tag? "Ohio has an estimated 745,000 lead pipes — more than most other states. Replacing them will cost billions of dollars, but analysts say doing so will pay off in the long run. Last month, the U.S. EPA issued a new rule: drinking water systems across the country have to find and replace lead pipes within the next decade. In Ohio, that’s a large lift. The EPA estimates the state has 745,000 lead water lines — more than every other state except Illinois and Florida. Removing those lines could cost upwards of $5 billion dollars, but a recent report from the policy analysis firm Scioto Analysis found doing so could save the state substantially more in the long run."
November 14, 2024. WVXU via IdeaStream. How will Ohio replace its 750,000 lead-based water lines? "There are nearly 45,000 lead service lines in Cincinnati, according to the public utility’s records. Executive Director Cathy Bailey says they’ve already replaced more than 6,000. [.....] Bailey recently served as a national consultant to the EPA, helping other U.S. cities establish their own lead line replacement programs. Many in Ohio have a long way to go: Columbus has at least 25,000 leadlines, and in Cleveland, the number is more than 230,000, according to the EPA. [....] Most of the lead lines still left in Cincinnati are privately-owned by homeowners, which means they have to give permission for Water Works to replace it. Community engagement and awareness is one area where Bailey says the experience the city gained in the last eight years is especially valuable."
Around Us
November 12, 2024. Press Herald. As the EPA sets new standards for lead dust exposure, Maine continues work to eradicate poisoning. "The number of Maine children with elevated levels of lead in their blood has dropped significantly, but state and local officials say there is still a lot of work to be done to remove hazards from older housing. Biddeford landlord Chuck Pothier suspected there was lead dust in his 1950s-era apartment building and worried about the harm it could cause to the young children living there. But getting rid of it was an expensive undertaking. Pothier turned to the city’s Lead Hazard Reduction and Healthy Home Program for forgivable loans and grants to remove the lead contamination. Without that assistance, his buildings could have remained among the thousands across the state built before 1978 that may contain lead paint that causes irreversible harm to children."
November 13, 2024 Post-Tribune. PNW professor emerita speaks about new book, impact of lead poisoning on NWI communities. "Surrounded by students and community members, Carolyn Boiarsky encouraged them to take action about environmental issues in their areas. 'You are the generation coming up,' said Boiarsky, an author and professor emerita at Purdue University Northwest. 'I hope that all of you will make sure that we can all live in a clean, healthy area.' "
Around Us -- Using State Medicaid dollars for lead remediation.
November 15, 2024. Planet Detroit. Detroit awarded $1.3M to address lead hazards in homes, part of $7M statewide effort. "The City of Detroit has received $1.3 million in grant funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to expand residential lead hazard control services. This funding is part of a larger $7 million initiative to reduce lead exposure in homes across the state, particularly in households with Medicaid-enrolled residents. Detroit’s funding will support a range of lead abatement activities, including inspections, removal or encapsulation of lead-based paint, replacement of hazardous plumbing, and temporary relocation of residents during remediation efforts. Activities funded by the grant must be completed by September 30, 2025."
Nov 8, 2024. Chicago Sun Times Letters to the Editor Water filter coupons will help more Cook County residents get lead-free water "An innovative new project in Cook County offers select families affected by lead-contaminated water a crucial solution for human health: coupons for water filters. Sen. Dick Durbin’s recent announcement of the program represents a critical step toward ensuring safe drinking water for Chicagoans, which is especially important in a city that has 400,000 lead pipes — more than any other U.S. city. Families with a verified lead service line, who are enrolled in Medicaid and have a child under 7, are eligible for a $50 water filter coupon to be distributed by mail, including approximately 90,000 households in the county. Eligible residents can visit their nearest Jewel-Osco grocery store to redeem their coupon for the full value of a filter pitcher and a replacement filter. This initiative follows a letter by Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Durbin to five Medicaid care companies in the state, advocating for the distribution of water filters certified to remove lead."
Around Us -- Your water is fine, but we are changing your pipes anyhow
Nov 13, 2024. Post and Courier. There’s no lead in Florence’s water, but your pipes might need to be replaced. "FLORENCE – Your water line may need to be replaced as part of a sweeping effort to limit the risk of lead poisoning. Thanks to a new rule from the Environmental Protection Agency, cities across the country are replacing water lines that could be dangerous. Florence leaders stressed there's no need to worry. Despite concerns about the city’s water, these actions have nothing to do with the recent issues, Interim City Manager Scotty Davis said. Davis emphasized there’s no trace of lead in the city’s water and there’s no indication lead pipes or fixtures were ever used in the city. Due to the new rule, the city is still required to replace some lines, though. 'It's (an) EPA requirement. It's nothing to do with the water, the city of Florence, or water quality, or anything (of) that nature,' Davis said." yah, right
Nov 13, 2024. RHINOTimes. Don’t Be Terrified By The Letter The City Of Greensboro Sent You.
November 15, 2024. NRI Now. Burrillville water districts comply with new laws on lead with notice, filters for customers. "The Pascoag Utility District and Harrisville Water Department took steps this month to comply with new state and federal regulations that require lead service water lines to be eliminated. And with the lead status of more than 1,000 pipes unknown, the change requires the districts to make water filters available to many of their customers while steps are taken to identify materials used in service lines throughout town. 'This project is part of our commitment to following state and federal regulations and protecting public health,' noted a release on the initiative."
If deteriorated lead paint is the biggest problem, why all the concern with water? Journalist Dan McGraw asked CLASH to explain.
1. You may not live in a poorly maintained pre-1978 rental property, but everyone drinks the same water. Many households are "at risk" because of lead service lines.
2. Right now, water departments all over the US are reaching out to their customers to let them know if they may be "at risk".
3. For CLASH, lead pipes removal provides a teaching moment for folks who believe that lead poisoning is just about low income inner city homes. Lead is everywhere you look and there is no safe level of exposure.
Around Us-Syracuse under pressure from citizens
Nov. 12, 2024. Spectrum. Frustrated Syracuse residents call for state of emergency over lead pipes. "The use of lead pipes for drinking water affects communities and residents across New York, and more communities are seemingly being added to the list. Syracuse residents are frustrated and tired of dealing with the issue. At a "Lead Crisis Rally" held Tuesday, they called for the city to declare a state of emergency. 'He had to be moved to another class because he has to have extra special ed,' said Darlene Medley, tears streaming down her face while talking about her son, Devon. Medley is the West Branch leader for Lead Freedom CNY."
Nov. 12, 2024, Syracuse.com. Syracuse activists demand state of emergency over lead pipes: ‘Can’t be patient anymore'
Nov. 13, 2024. Syracuse.com. Lead in paint, pipes an emergency that city, county have failed to prioritize (Your Letters)
November 12, 2024. WAER. Groups sound alarm on "lead water crisis" in Syracuse while city hall tries to appease concerns. "Syracuse families and advocates are sounding the alarm on what they say are unsafe levels of lead in drinking water caused by lead pipes. More than two dozen people gathered in front of city hall Tuesday to urge the city to address what they say is a crisis by quickly replacing lead pipes. The New York Civil Liberties Union organized the rally, and director of the racial justice center Lanessa Owens says immediate action is needed."
Around Cleveland (sort of...)
November 6, 2024. Loyola Phoenix (the official student newspaper of Loyola University Chicago.) Lead in Infrastructure is a Dangerous Pipeline. "Lead pipes are more political and perilous than meets the eye. Lead poisoning is one of the biggest environmental and humanitarian injustices facing America, and not enough people are talking about it. [.....] Around 9.2 million lead pipes make up the national service line infrastructure, according to a report from the Environmental Protection Agency. There’s a heavy concentration of lead pipes in the Rust Belt, with Ohio and Illinois listed as two out of the 50 states with the highest levels of lead service lines. My hometown of Cleveland has lead-poisoning levels nearly four times the national average, according to News 5 Cleveland. To put this into perspective, Flint, MI in 2016 reported elevated lead levels in children of 7% to 10%, while Cleveland is seeing around 12% to 13% of children with elevated lead levels, with some neighborhoods reaching rates near 25%, according to Case Western Reserve."
Around Us
Nov. 7, 2024. WBNG. Broome Co. Health Dept. will scan your home for lead hazards "The Broome County Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is offering free lead assessments for homes built before 1978. If you have a child under the age of 6-years-old or a person who is pregnant in your household, a trained professional will check for lead hazards using an X-ray fluorescent machine."
Nov 7, 2024. Paducah Water completes initial service line inventory. On November 7, Paducah Water announced the completion of its initial inventory of service lines that connect water mains to customers’ homes or businesses. According to Paducah Water, the inventory is part of the EPA’s updated Lead and Copper Rule, which 'requires each water system across the country to categorize service lines in its system and communicate this information to its customers annually.' This update aims to improve public protection from the risks of lead exposure."
November 8, 2024. Brown University. Heavy Metal. "Firearms are dangerous, but their ammunition holds a silent threat: dangerously high levels of lead. Brown doctoral student Christian Hoover teams up with Professor Joseph Braun to examine the connection between guns and elevated lead levels in America’s children and adults."
Around Us--The letters are going out
November 4, 2024. Canton Repository. Get the lead out: Many Stark County water customers may need to replace their lines.
November 4, 2024. Minnesota Star Tribune. Check this Minnesota map to find out if your home’s drinking water comes through a lead pipe. "Minnesotans can use a new tool to check whether a lead pipe sends water into their home — part of a push by the Biden administration and state officials to remove lead plumbing from the drinking water system over the next decade. [.....] Residents whose homes have lead lines should expect to hear from their water system about next steps to remove them, Andrea Ahneman, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota Department of Health, wrote in an email. Thanks Molly and Suzanne.
Nov 9, 2024. vindy.com. City water customers to get lead notices "The city’s water department is sending notifications in the mail to about 11,000 customers whose direct service lines may contain lead. The notifications do not mean lead is present in the water supply, but that the lines may contain lead, according to the water department. The notification is mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to inform customers of any potential risk of lead exposure based on aging service lines made prior to 1954."
November 5, 2024. MSN. Elevated lead levels found in water pipes in Benton Township. "Benton Township is warning residents of elevated lead levels in tap water. According to our newsgathering partners at WSJM, at least 40 water service lines will have to be replaced after recent testing. Benton Township officials say more than 100 service lines near the Benton Harbor border may contain lead pipes. Homeowners within the impacted areas will soon receive a letter from the Township."
November 6, 2024. Times Free Press. Tennessee American Water advises 40,000 of lead, galvanized steel, ‘unknown’ materials in service lines. " 'At Tennessee American Water, providing safe, reliable and affordable water service is our top priority," the company said in the message. 'We're reaching out to you because our records indicate a portion or all of the water service line serving the property listed below is made of lead or galvanized steel or your service line material is 'unknown.'
Nov 7, 2024. WHTM. Capital Region Water helps residents identify lead service lines. "Capital Region Water (CRW) announced it is building an extensive inventory of service lines to identify potential lead and galvanized service lines. According to CRW’s water sampling results, lead isn’t present in drinking water supplied to homes or businesses in its service region; however, lead could be present in the pipes and service lines of old homes that connect to residents’ water systems. Lead in plumbing and fixtures on residents’ property could dissolve, poisoning water. To keep residents informed of potential water with lead, CRW says they will create a notification process that includes mail and educational materials detailing risks associated with lead and galvanized lines. CRW added that residents can also access an interactive service line map via a QR code sent through the mail."
Nov 7, 2024. Hastings Tribune. HU ready to send water service line notices to residents. "Next week, many Hastings residents will receive a letter in the mail from Hastings Utilities notifying them of the presence, or possible presence, of lead in their water service lines. HU officials want the community to know, however, that Hastings has no problem with lead in its water supply — just a need to replace aging service lines that were installed at a time when plumbing infrastructure standards didn’t reflect today’s understanding of lead in drinking water as a health hazard. In an update at Thursday’s monthly meeting of the city’s Utility Advisory Board, Brandan Lubken, HU’s director of underground operations, said letters would be mailed Friday to residents whose homes may have lead service lines; galvanized metal service lines downstream of lead services, which may absorb tiny amounts of lead from the passing water over time; or service lines of unknown material, which may or may not be made of lead or galvanized metal in need of replacement."All over the country, water departments are reaching out to customers and the public with information about lead service lines as required by the new lead and copper rule.
Some Clevelanders have gotten letters from the Cleveland Water Department, but there's been no public information. CLASH WONDERS WHY?
The Cleveland Water Department letter has some interesting suggestions:
Report your service line materials to clevelandwater.com/line. Find instructions here.
Respond to our offers when we reach out with information about water line replacement.
Volunteer to be a Water Sample Site. Send an email to LeadLookup@ClevelandWater.com or call 216-664-2882. Be sure to include your address.
The mailed notice also asks that people who received the notice share the information with other people in their home or building.
CLASH also noticed that the CWD website has a new map of lead service lines
Around US-NYCHA tenants sue over Right to Know
Nov 5, 2024 Gothamist. NYCHA tenants sue city, saying agency does not disclose rats, lead, other hazards "Three New York City public housing residents are suing a top city official, saying his agency failed to publish violations for hazards like rat infestations, mold blooms and lead paint in an online database, as required by law. The residents, all of whom live in New York City Housing Authority apartments, accuse Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión of ignoring a 2022 state law meant to make conditions in the city’s 177,000 public housing apartments publicly available in an online database. That database, known as HPD Online, already publishes information about privately owned buildings in the city — including violations and bedbug reports."
Around Us-Minneapolis
November 3, 2024. Minnesota Daily. City seeking end to childhood lead poisoning. "Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is planning an over $1 million investment in his 2025 budget to make Minneapolis the first city in the country to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Minneapolis reported 112 children with high levels of lead in their blood in 2022, according to the Minneapolis Health Department. Across the entire state, nearly 700 Minnesota children have elevated blood lead levels each year. The City of Minneapolis has invested and secured about $60 million to ensure homes are safe and free from lead since 1998. Council Member Jason Chavez (Ward 9) said the City Council approved around $1.9 million for the Minneapolis’ Lead and Healthy Homes program.Minneapolis Health Department’s Lead and Healthy Homes Manager Alex Vollmer said lead is found primarily in deteriorated paint in homes and consumer products like makeup, ceramic cookware, international candies, medicines and soil."
'The Lead and Healthy Homes team offers free lead testing for children in Minneapolis communities in the Leadie Eddie van (seen above).
November 04, 2024. Press RELEASE Department of Codes & Regulations launches new software for Rental Registry "LOUISVILLE, Ky. (November 4, 2024) – The Department of Codes & Regulations has introduced a new software, Slate, to improve user experience and simplify the management process for property owners to register their long-term rentals. The Rental Registry program, created by Metro Council in 2022, aims to enhance transparency across rental properties in the city and improve the well-being of tenants. The Slate program, created by Tolemi, has achieved considerable success in various other cities such as Monterey, CA, and Lakewood, WA. The platform is well-regarded for its intuitive interface and its effectiveness in ensuring adherence to rental regulations. This new software will enable property owners to register their properties swiftly and effortlessly.
Around Cleveland
Nov. 03, 2024. cleveland.com. Cleveland’s lead crisis demands action. No more half-measures, no more excuses: editorial "Five years ago, Cleveland set out to make history with a law aimed at safeguarding children from the dangers of lead paint. Yet, five years later, we’re staring at failure. Instead of celebrating a milestone in public health, we’re stuck in a crisis where lead poisoning remains an ever-present threat, especially to Cleveland’s youngest and most vulnerable residents. The numbers are shocking. Childhood lead poisoning rates in Cleveland are two to three times higher than those seen in Flint, Michigan, during the height of its infamous lead crisis, Cleveland Public Health Director Dr. David Margolius recently told City Council. From 2021 to 2023, over 4,200 children under the age of five were poisoned. And what progress has been made? None. We have nearly $100 million allocated for lead abatement, yet only $6.2 million has been spent. Meanwhile, lead poisoning rates have not decreased; in fact, they’ve climbed. Five years gone. Thousands of kids harmed. And a $93 million pool sitting largely unspent. It’s unconscionable."
News from Around Us
Oct 28, 2024. Tribune Democrat. Greater Johnstown Water Authority prepares for lead pipe overhaul as final federal rule on lead-free America issued. "JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – President Joe Biden’s administration issued a final rule this month for ridding America’s water systems of lead. It builds on previous mandates from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that required communities to compile inventories of lead service lines. The Greater Johnstown Water Authority has found thousands of lead lines, and thousands more still need to be examined as it refines its inventory. The final rule provides a period of 13 years to replace lead pipes in the system, GJWA general manager Michael Kerr said. The clock starts when the rule goes into effect 60 days from the Oct. 8 date it was signed. 'What they are going to do is give us three years after it goes into effect to put a plan together and 10 years to execute it,' Kerr said."
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Does your water contain a neurotoxin? City to notify residents with lead water service lines. "Mayor Malik Evans announced last week that the city submitted its lead water service line inventory to the N.Y. State Department of Health. The city will begin notifying customers if their city service lines contain lead, or unknown material. Residents will receive a letter with information on when their street is scheduled to have its lead service lines replaced — and how to minimize lead in drinking water. Lead in water that children drink can cause them severe lifelong health effects."
Oct 28 2024. News-Medical. Mitigating lead exposure effects through maternal care and enriched environments. "A new study by Thomas Jefferson University neuroscientist Jay Schneider, PhD, suggests that the toxic effects of lead can be mitigated by attentive maternal care and an enriched environment in an animal model. Dr. Schneider had previously shown that rats living in an enriched environment – larger cages with toys and climbing structures – experienced fewer negative effects on cognitive function and brain chemistry caused by lead exposure. In the new work, infant rats exposed to lead received either low- or high-quality maternal care, as measured by the amount of licking, grooming and nursing the pups received. After weaning, the rats lived in either standard laboratory cages or enriched environments. They found that high quality maternal care, along with an enriched environment, reduced lead's untoward effects on performance on a memory task. [.....] Primary prevention to avoid exposure in the first place is the best strategy, but until that is achieved, it's crucial to understand that behavioral and environmental interventions might have positive impacts. Here's the study Keep in mind that this is an animal study
October 30, 2024. Planet Detroit. Detroit City Council tightens rental rules, focusing on tenant safety and compliance "Detroit City Council has greenlit changes to its rental ordinance, focusing on rental compliance, lead inspections, and tenant protections via expanded escrow rules, starting January 1, 2025, with full rollout by spring." Wait...there's more: Detroit City Council approves 2 major housing ordinances: What to know
November 3, 2024 Courthouse News. Hundreds of Benton Harbor children ask Sixth Circuit to revive claims over lead poisoning from drinking water. "The case has similar characteristics to the much more publicized Flint, Michigan, water crisis, but among its notable differences is what caused the tainted water. Hundreds of children who suffered lead poisoning from contaminated drinking water asked the Sixth Circuit on Tuesday to revive their case against state and city officials who they claim concealed and prolonged the crisis. Because of the officials' decisions, lead levels were more than 50 times greater than the 'threshold action level' for more than three years, according to the plaintiffs, who filed a federal lawsuit in 2022. It was dismissed by a judge who found the defendants were entitled to qualified immunity."
Oct. 31, 2024. LA Times. Berkeley startup wins government award to develop radiation and lead poisoning treatment. "The HOPO chelators could potentially fill a crucial gap in lead poisoning treatment. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a concentration of 3.5 micrograms of lead for every deciliter of blood constitutes lead poisoning, it doesn’t recommend treatment to remove lead until the concentration reaches over 45 micrograms, because of the adverse effects of existing treatments."
October 30, 2024. Times-Tribune Judge orders landlord in Scranton to remove lead in apartment where lawsuit claims 2-year-old child poisoned by toxic element. "A judge ordered a landlord in Scranton to remove lead-based paint from an apartment after a mother sued, claiming her nearly 2-year-old daughter was poisoned from the toxic element. The judge required the landlord to take both interim and permanent lead-abatement steps, and pay for alternative housing for the tenants until the remediation is completed at the building on 961 Wheeler Ave."
OCTOBER 30, 2024. Harlem World Magazine. Left In The Dust: The Failure To Protect New York City Tenants From Lead Dust Hazards During Residential Construction. "Today, Lead Dust Free NYC, a tenant-led advocacy group, TakeRoot Justice and the New York City Coalition to End Lead Poisoning (NYCCELP). '… tenants continue to face harsh conditions during construction …' NYCCELP is a coalition of advocates, doctors, lawyers committed to ensuring that NYC’s lead laws are adequately implemented and enforced, released a new report: Left In The Dust: The Failure To Protect New York City Tenants From Lead Dust Hazards During Residential Construction. New York City tenants continue to face harsh conditions during construction in their buildings. The report shows that the very protections intended to keep tenants safe from exposure to lead dust are not being followed. Here's the report.
Around Us -- Chronic low level exposure, long term disability
10/30/24. The Hill. Lead poisoning costs world’s children 765 million IQ points a year: Study "Low-level lead poisoning remains pervasive in the U.S. and world populations despite decades of efforts to end the use of lead in infrastructure, according to a study by researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. The results, published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that exposure to lead, even at levels once considered safe, is a factor in 5.5 million deaths from cardiovascular disease a year. In children, for whom lead exposure is a major contributor to problems with cognitive development, researchers found it continues to cost the collective equivalent of 765 million IQ points a year."
October 30, 2024. New England Journal of Medicine. Lead Poisoning. "Chronic lead poisoning, even at low levels, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adults and cognitive deficits in children. The authors review the effects of chronic, low-level lead poisoning."
Around Us-Reaction to Lead Dust Standards
October 27, 2024. Indiana Public Media. EPA cracks down on lead dust. Indiana advocates say more is needed to help exposed children. " 'We've been dragging our feet on this. Yes, it's expensive. Good things are expensive to achieve sometimes. And in this case, good thing is to protect children from dust that’s sourced from lead-based paint,' he said. Garry Holland, education chair of the Indianapolis NAACP, said landlords have known about the issue of lead paint for decades — but so has the EPA. He said the government should do more to help the people who have already been exposed — like children who are struggling in school. 'Type of civilization do we have when we know that we are harming children and we do nothing about it?' Holland said. Though Indiana and federal government have some money available for people who own their homes, it’s likely not enough to clean up all the lead. Filipelli said hopefully, with this new rule, the funding will follow."
November 1, 2024. North Carolina Health News. NCEPA cracks down on lead dust, but Durham family is still battling effects of a legacy of exposure. "Biden administration keeps working to reduce the nation’s vulnerability to lead, but relief can’t come soon enough for some. "Durham resident Midori Brooks is fighting a decades-long battle to free her family from lead exposure. The 55-year-old’s struggle with this environmental issue traces back to the mid-1990s when she and her family lived in a rental house in west Durham. It was there that her three children came into contact with lead-contaminated dust. When her oldest son was a toddler, she learned that he had a blood lead level of 28 micrograms per deciliter, she told NC Health News in 2022. Doctors described her son’s reading as 'quite high,' requiring 'quick action.' The Centers for Disease Control states that a child’s blood lead level of 3.5 to 5 micrograms per deciliter requires prompt attention. [ ] Three decades later, she’s still fighting lead — this time in a different house as a low-income homeowner. Her oldest son, dogged throughout his life by the effects of his early exposure to lead, has four children of his own. Three of them live with Brooks.
October 2024
Busy week for CLASHers
RRP Training on Thursday, Faith and Leaders Luncheon on Friday and Lead Safe Resource Fair on Saturday. Keep in mind that CLASH is an all volunteer, mostly self-funded, coalition of grassroots organizations working to make Cleveland lead safe. Your donation will help us continue to reach out to at risk Clevelanders and public officials. Our low overhead means CLASH has high independence. Your support assures our ability to speak truth to power.
Around Cleveland
Cleveland's Lead Screening and Testing Commission met last Thursday with strong presentations of the special needs of immigrant communities facing lead risks. Link to the recording is here: https://clevelandhealth.org/programs/environment/lead_test_screening_commission/
Link to the CDPH Data Brief is here: https://clevelandhealth.org/assets/documents/health/health_statistics/Lead_Poisoning_Data_Brief_2023.pdf
PD and Bibb. Oct. 24, 2024. Cleveland.com. How our journalism stands apart on lead paint, Browns stadium and Issue 1: Letter from the Editor. "Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb sent out a press release recently to describe his plan for reversing the abject, inexplicable failure of the city to address lead poisoning of children. The release gave reporters a choice. Lead the story with Bibb’s plan for addressing the failure. Or, lead with the previously unknown fact that the program is such a failure. I’m sure Bibb would have preferred the former, which is the path some Cleveland newsrooms took. But the real news here was not how Bibb planned to fix the problem. It was the problem itself: Five years after launching a program to finally, after decades of failure, reduce the number of children poisoned by lead, the city had made zero progress. Bibb’s press release was spin. Rather than announce the failure, he cast his solutions as the news. If I were him, I’d have done the same thing. And I’m glad he is getting more aggressive in dealing with his scourge. Also, he did acknowledge the program’s failure, which many politicians would not have done. Our job, though, is to see through spin and inform our readers of the news. Reporter Courtney Astolfi did include Bibb’s planned fixes in her report, but the staggering impact of the failure was the bigger news."
Around Ohio
Oct 25, 2024. WCPO. After neighbors spent years asking county to move CPD gun range, groundbreaking held on new, future facility. "For over five years, residents in multiple Cincinnati neighborhoods have pushed Hamilton County officials to relocate a gun range used by Cincinnati police officers away from their communities. [.....] " Renee Mahaffey-Harris, president and CEO at the Center for Closing the Health Gap, told WCPO last year there are reasonable concerns that lead from the gun range could be in the soil of the property. The first phase of construction is expected to last one year and will include the construction of a temporary gun range for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department. The new Safety Complex Building, which includes 60 total 100-yard firing lines and six 300-yard firing lines is expected to be completed by 2026. At that time, the soil at the property had not been tested to determine whether this was the case." Is it surprising to learn that Lincoln Heights is a predominantly African American community?
October 23, 2024. Lima News. Lima panel discusses lead abatement. "Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith shared three key messages about lead abatement at Wednesday’s Let’s Talk Lead conference: get the facts, get your child tested and get your home tested. The panel gathered representatives from the city, Allen County, the West Ohio Community Action Partnership and Lead Safe Ohio contractors to discuss the presence of lead in the Lima community and how residents can prevent serious health effects caused by lead exposure."
Around Us
October 25, 2024 Joint News Release MURPHY ADMINISTRATION RELEASES UPDATED POTENTIAL LEAD EXPOSURE MAPPING TOOL DURING NATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK NEW LAYER IDENTIFIES WATER PROVIDER SERVICE LINE INVENTORIES. "In recognition of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (Oct. 20-26), the New Jersey Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Health (DOH) today released updates and additions to a statewide online mapping tool that uses publicly available data to indicate potential sources of lead exposure across the state. The updates add a new map layer showing community water provider level service line inventories as an indicator of potential lead exposure from drinking water, in addition to the existing layers focused on lead paint in New Jersey’s housing stock. A service line is the pipe that connects a property with a water provider’s water main. Particularly in older homes and businesses, these lines may be made of lead or made with lead components. The combined tool layers will help the public, local health officers, and community groups better understand where children and adults may be at risk for lead exposure across the state. Updates to the Potential Lead Exposure Mapping Tool or PLEM are partially funded through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, the same funding source used to develop the initial tool in 2021."
October 25th 2024. WHAM. Elevated levels of lead rises among children in Monroe County "A new report shows more children in Monroe County had elevated lead levels in their blood in 2023 compared to 2022, with most of the cases centered in the city of Rochester. Starr O’Neill, manager of environmental health for Monroe County said, 'Any kid that has lead poisoning is eye-raising, it's always a concern.' Data from 2023 shows that 12,788 children were tested for lead poisoning in Monroe County, an increase of 680 from 12,108 in 2022. Among the children tested in 2023, 241 had elevated lead levels, compared to 141 in 2022. 'So seeing more testing in the city generally leads to more elevated lead levels,' said O’Neill. Read more here: Monroe County child lead exposure data shows increase in testing and in cases of elevated levels. More on this story: October 29, 2024 Rochester Beacon More children in Monroe County have elevated lead levels
October 25, 2024. NJ Spotlight News. Is lead exposure adding to NJ’s maternal deaths? "Research shows that lead is directly connected to health-related illnesses that’ve been linked to maternal deaths in New Jersey. 'Lead is something that we know is associated with preeclampsia, it’s associated with thrombosis, it’s associated with high blood pressure, low birth weight,' said Brian Buckley, executive director and director of research at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute at Rutgers University. 'There’s a bunch of things that lead is associated with that are risk factors in pregnancy. We know that mom passes lead to baby through the placenta. When they do that, baby’s born lead burdened.' And yet, there’s no clinical guidance, here in New Jersey or across the nation, for screening people for lead exposure during pregnancy. Buckley has conducted research at Rutgers, looking at pregnant moms and the impact of lead in the system during gestation."
Oct. 21, 2024. syracuse.com. 2 months after failing lead standards, Syracuse drinking water samples improve, officials say "The latest drinking water samples from more than 100 Syracuse homes found nearly all had lead levels within federal limits, city officials said Monday. That comes two months after the city reported elevated levels from another group of homes for the first time in two decades. In August, the city reported historically high lead levels after water sampling at 104 homes. Of those, 27 homes -- more than 25% -- had lead levels above the national safety standard of 15 parts per billion. The homes with lead-laced water had such bad results that the city’s average lead level among tested homes was more than 5 times the federal limit. That led a national group, the National Resources Defense Council, to claim recently that Syracuse’s lead samples were worse than those in Flint, Michigan. But the city also reported Friday that a new batch of test results showed dramatically lower lead levels than those found this summer. In this more recent round, tests at 115 homes found only five with elevated lead levels, according to the October samples. The city is continuing to test, but so far, those numbers are once again below federal limits for lead in drinking water. The most recent tests include nine homes that ran afoul of lead safety standards in the August samples. Of those, eight were now compliant, with the ninth showing significantly less lead in the water than before, said water commissioner Robert Brandt." More on this story: November 1, 2024. Washington Post. Confusion mounts in another U.S. city grappling with lead in its taps: "Two officials in Syracuse were placed on leave after The Washington Post looked into how the city conducted lead tests."
Around Us--Lead in Schools
October 25, 2024 Hawaiʻi Public Radio. Nearly 1,500 water fixtures replaced in Hawaiʻi schools to reduce lead exposure. "Hawaiʻi was one of seven recipients of an Environmental Protection Agency grant to retrofit water fixtures in elementary schools and preschool centers. Millions of dollars have gone into replacing problematic fixtures across the state. HPR talked to Dr. Diana Felton, the toxicologist for the state Department of Health, about a project to ensure drinking water in Hawaiʻi public schools is lead-free. The initial surveying of school sites was funded by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act."
Around Us - New Lead Paint Standards
Biden administration cracks down on lead paint, a serious threat to children’s health
October 21, 2024. Press Release. EPA Fines Leavenworth Military Housing Renovator for Alleged Lead-Based Paint Violations. "E&J Painting LLC of Leavenworth, Kansas, will pay a civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the company does home renovation work, including work on private military housing in Fort Leavenworth, and failed to comply with regulations intended to reduce the hazards of lead-based paint exposure during renovations."
October 24, 2024. Scripps. More homes could require lead paint abatement after EPA bolsters standards "The new rule now considers any reportable level of lead paint as hazardous. The Environmental Protection Agency announced stronger standards for identifying and cleaning up lead paint in homes and child care facilities built before 1978. The new rule now considers any reportable level of lead paint as hazardous. The new EPA rule significantly reduces the amount of lead that can remain in the dust on floors, window sills and window troughs."
E.P.A. Toughens Requirements to Remove Lead Paint Dust Around Children
Around Us -- Funding Lead Pipe Replacement
October 23, 2024. Press Release. $3.6 Billion for Water Infrastructure Through Investing in America Agenda. "Today, October 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade water infrastructure and keep communities safe. Combined with $2.6 billion announced earlier this month, this $6.2 billion in investments for Fiscal Year 2025 will help communities across the country upgrade water infrastructure that is essential to safely managing wastewater, protecting local freshwater resources, and delivering safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses."
"Opening the Tap: Accessing EPA’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Water Assistance Programs" This manual provides tips to water systems on finding funds for lead pipe replacement.
Jasmine Mossbarger writes: Thank you so much for joining our webinar on lead service line replacement in the Great Lakes communities. The full webinar can be watched on the BlueGreen Alliance website. Panelists from Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit provide insights into their plans to comply with the New Lead and Copper Rule.
Around Us -- Universal Child Testing
October 23, 2024 City of Milwaukee. MHD Issues New Testing Recommendations to Protect Children "MHD [Milwaukee Health Department] has updated its testing guidelines to better safeguard children in the city. Previously, MHD did not recommend universal testing annually after 24 months unless a child tested positive for elevated blood lead levels. However, due to Milwaukee’s large population, the high prevalence of lead paint and other lead hazards, and the deterioration of older homes, MHD is now adopting a more aggressive testing schedule than both its previous recommendations and the state’s current guidelines. MHD’s new recommendations call for universal blood lead testing for all children in Milwaukee at 12, 18, and 24 months, and then annually through the age of 5, regardless of their previous testing schedule or results. This approach provides earlier detection and more frequent monitoring in areas at high risk for lead exposure." Backgrounder: Oct 27, 2024. DHS Encourages Wisconsinites to Take Action to Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning."Earlier this year, DHS issued updated lead testing recommendations, calling for all children to be tested for exposure to lead at ages 1 and 2. Children between 3 and 5 years old who have not been previously tested should also undergo screening for lead poisoning. Wisconsin communities with high rates of lead exposure due to the age of housing or other lead hazards may have additional testing recommendations."
Around Us -- Consumer products
October 25, 2024. NPR. Lead in cinnamon: Where do things stand, 1 year after a scary recall? "In the 2024 fiscal year, 'FDA physically examined 50,135 lines and sampled 11,780 lines of human foods coming into the U.S.,' the spokesperson says. 'While FDA physically examines less than 2% of shipments, we electronically screen 100% of all shipments and sample from the highest risk shipments.' The FDA says it has only limited tools for reducing exposure to toxic elements such as lead in the food supply. It's been asking Congress to give it new authority to establish binding contamination limits in foods, especially those consumed by infants and young children. But those efforts have not succeeded."
Around Us -- Lead in Public Housing
October 24, 2024. NYC Housing Authority. NYCHA Abates More Than 10,000 Public Housing Apartments to Be Lead-Free. This milestone demonstrates the substantial progress the Authority has made in the identification and removal of lead hazards through its Lead-Based Paint Abatement Program NYCHA’s PACT program has abated an additional 3,000 apartments to be lead-free, including the vast majority of apartments at Harlem River and Williamsburg Houses, the two previously heavily contaminated sites named in the 2019 HUD Agreement." CLASH welcomes the invitation of Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority to help make plans to test children in at-risk units, to re-inspect at-risk units, and to support CMHA tenants in their efforts to identify lead risks and to use lead safe practices in their homes and communities.
October 17, 2024. Signal Cleveland. Mayor Justin Bibb shakes up Cleveland’s flagging effort to stop children from being lead poisoned. "Bibb wants to push for a higher standard of lead inspections in Cleveland rental properties. His executive order surprised the people who have been helping City Hall carry out its lead program for the last several years. A shakeup is coming to Cleveland’s multimillion-dollar fight against lead paint. In an executive order this week, Mayor Justin Bibb argued that the city’s five-year-old effort to clear household lead hazards was ineffective. The order came as a surprise to people who have worked for years to help City Hall carry out its battle against lead. Now the mayor is reaching for a more expensive and difficult goal: lead abatement. The term “abatement” means the full removal or permanent containment of lead in a house. That could entail replacing walls, baseboards, windows, doors – any surface coated with lead-based paint before the substance was banned in 1978. Chipped and peeling lead-based paint that was applied to homes decades ago still poses a risk to children. Cleveland, with its old housing stock, has one of the highest lead poisoning rates in the country."
Oct 14, 2024. WEWS. Cleveland pivots certification process to tackle lead paint hazards
Oct. 14, 2024. Cleveland.com. Worse than Flint: 4 takeaways from Cleveland’s big lead poisoning hearing
October 14, 2024. Channel 3 News. City of Cleveland determined to lower lead poisoning cases; Mayor Bibb takes action. "Mayor Justin Bibb signs executive order requiring anyone who owns or rents a home built before 1978 get additional testing."
Oct. 15, 2024. SpectrumNews1. Public health leaders raise alarm bells about lead crisis in Cleveland
October 14, 2024. Ideastream Public Media. Cleveland officials meet to address shortcomings in lead testing, remediation efforts.
Around Cleveland since the Mayor's Executive Order
Enforcement and Endorsement. October 21, 2024. Tracking Cleveland’s efforts to crack down on lead paint hazards. "We told you last week that Cleveland City Hall is shaking up its efforts against lead paint in rental homes. Here’s another angle on the city’s fight against lead." There's also an explanation of Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition's endorsement to the Mayor's Executive Order.
A New City Webpage has info on the new Lead Safe Certificate protocols. Not much help here for small scale landlords who need to come into compliance. You can always try the link to Lead Safe Cleveland.
October 21, 2024. The Daily (CWRU) Mandel’s Robert Fischer emphasizes long-term impacts of lead poisoning on children "Robert Fischer, the Grace Longwell Coyle Professor in Civil Society and director of the Center on Poverty and Community Development at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, emphasized the long-term impacts of lead poisoning on children, explaining that his research highlights the urgent need for comprehensive solutions in Cleveland. 'We saw those lead-poisoned kids…show up more frequently in child welfare services, juvenile justice, homeless services, and adult jail,' he said."
Around Ohio
Oct. 15, 2024. cleveland.com. Akron and Summit County get HUD grants for lead abatement. "Akron and Summit County are getting more than $10 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to remove lead poisoning hazards from homes and HUD-assisted properties. The local awards were among more than $420 million HUD announced last week across 32 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. More than $77 million of that money is going to communities in the Great Lakes region. HUD announced Akron is getting a $7,750,000 lead hazard reduction grant, and Summit County is getting $6,098,902. The State of Ohio is getting $5,750,000."
New lead research: hope or hype?
October 7, 2024. Technologies Networks. Paving the Way Towards a Safer Future With XRF Analysis. "Innovative XRF techniques for detecting heavy metals in dried blood spot samples are helping to create a cleaner, healthier world."Technology innovation is a hot ticket.
Last week's announcement of the new philanthropic initiative, Eliminating Lead Poisoning Innovation Fund proclaims the expanded use of innovative technology to combat global lead poisoning.
October 16, 2024. Press Release. Folic acid may mitigate link between lead exposure during pregnancy and autistic behaviours in children. "New research gives another reason to take folic acid supplements while pregnant. A new study by Simon Fraser University researchers has found that folate may weaken the link between blood-lead levels in pregnant women and autistic-like behaviours in their children. Researchers from SFU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, led by PhD candidate Joshua Alampi, published the study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. 'Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy has numerous benefits to child health, especially brain development,' says Alampi. 'Our study suggests that adequate folic acid supplementation mitigates the neurotoxic effects of lead.' ”
Will the hype live up to the hope? Here's an example of a flawed technology that had to be fixed.
October 9, 2024. Reuters. Lead testing device company Magellan sentenced for concealing defects. "A federal judge on Wednesday signed-off on a plea agreement resolving charges against Magellan Diagnostics that it concealed a malfunction in its lead-testing devices that led to thousands of patients receiving inaccurately low results. U.S. District Judge Patti Saris in Boston accepted the plea agreement and imposed a sentence requiring Magellan to pay $32.7 million, a portion of the overall $42 million it agreed to pay as part a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice whose "unusual" terms Saris had previously questioned." FWIW: Ohio Department of Health has been monitoring Magellan Diagnostic products and advising health professionals.
CLASH suspects that everyone in Cleveland is focused on lead paint, but the news nationally is EPA's New Lead and Copper rule.
Has anyone in Ohio reported on the new Lead and Copper Rule rule? Did anyone seek a local perspective from their water departments? How will schools adopt sampling which is now covered by Federal standards? Why did Cleveland Water Department refuse to come to CLASH's Lead Safe Resource Fair this Saturday? Clevelanders have lots of questions about lead and water.
Lead and Copper Rule News
October 8, 2024. Washington Post. In landmark move, EPA requires removal of all U.S. lead pipes in a decade "The groundbreaking regulation, called the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, will establish a national inventory of lead service lines and require that utilities take more aggressive action to remove lead pipes on homeowners’ private property. It also lowers the level of lead contamination that will trigger government enforcement from 15 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb. The rule also establishes the first-ever national requirement to test for lead in schools that rely on water from public utilities. It mandates that water systems screen all elementary and child-care facilities, where those who are the most vulnerable to lead’s effects — young children — are enrolled, and that they offer testing to middle and high schools."
Oct. 8, 2024, NYT Lead Drinking-Water Pipes Must be Replaced Nationwide, E.P.A. Says "Digging up and replacing the nation’s lead pipes to address that health risk will be a colossal undertaking. The E.P.A. estimates that water utilities must replace about nine million lead pipes at a total cost of $20 billion to $30 billion over a decade. While much of that cost will fall to the utilities, and most likely their ratepayers, $15 billion in federal funding is also available under the 2021 infrastructure law to help pay for the effort. On Tuesday, the E.P.A. announced $2.6 billion in new funding to support lead pipe replacement. The rule was expected to face opposition from some utilities, which have cited rising costs, supply-chain problems, labor shortages and incomplete or missing building records as obstacles to the rapid replacement of lead pipes."
October 8, 2024. Axios. EPA readies $2.6 billion to replace every lead water pipe in a decade. "The final rule announced Tuesday supports ongoing efforts to locate lead pipes across the U.S. and will strengthen tap water testing requirements. The $2.6 billion infusion follows a previous $15 billion investment for lead pipe replacement. The 2021 infrastructure law included more than $50 billion toward clean drinking water and water infrastructure. Nearly half of the funding dedicated to clean water mandates must flow to disadvantaged communities, notably those who are often disproportionately impacted by lead poisoning."
Gap #1: Property owner lead lines. The new lead and copper rule doesn't require property owners to replace lead service lines coming into the home, school, or child care center.
One of the questions at the CLASH Board meeting: will the new Lead and Copper Rule cover the cost of replacing property owners pipes? Quick answer is NO. During the public comment phase of the rulemaking process, EPA decided it did not have the authority to order property owners to replace lead lines on private property. BUT...BUT...BUT individual Water departments may offer to pay for owner pipes. Here's an example:
October 9, 2024. Dorchester News. When idea is to ‘get the lead out,’ residents can get pipes removed quickly – at no cost. "Getting lead water pipes removed has never been so affordable – in fact, it is free via a citywide program targeting owners who want to eliminate the lead health concern from their homes. The removal effort is a top priority of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), both said. Armed with a multi-million-dollar federal grant from the pandemic-related Infrastructure and Investment in Jobs Act and state grant funding and focused on Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury in particular, BWSC is conducting heavy outreach to the remaining holdouts and to those with complicated, expensive jobs that homeowners deferred in the past. In the past, such jobs could cost homeowners thousands of dollars, but all of them are now free.
Gap #2: What about schools and child care? The new law lowers the threshold for lead in water, but Ohio doesn't require regular testing of schools and child care centers.
Oct 8, 2024. WRAL. New EPA lead rule overlooks biggest source of contamination in schools "The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule requiring all U.S. cities, including those in North Carolina, to replace lead pipes within the next decade. This national effort aims to remove an estimated nine million lead pipes still in use, addressing the serious health risks associated with lead exposure, particularly for children.In North Carolina, the impact is significant. More than half of water samples collected from schools contained lead, according to the state’s “Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids” program. The contamination rate is even higher in child care centers. However, much of that contamination is from plumbing and fixtures – issues not addressed in the EPA’s new rule."
OCT 16, 2024. WAMU. D.C. Water CEO on lead pipe replacement program: ‘There is no lead level that should be allowed’. "In January 2004, random tests conducted by the Washington Area Sewage Authority found thousands of homes in D.C. showed lead contamination above the EPA recommended limit. In response, the District provided thousands of free water filters to District residents and offered free blood testing to anyone concerned they may have consumed contaminated water. [.....] “In 2019, the agency launched the Lead Free DC initiative with the goal of replacing all the city’s lead pipes with copper by the year 2037. The agency has already replaced all lead service lines running to D.C. schools and emergency medical facilities."
OCTOBER 21, 2024. LA Times via AOL. EPA lead ruling unlikely to resolve water contamination issues in L.A. public housing. "Days after the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency visited a Los Angeles public housing project with lead-contaminated water, the agency ordered drinking water systems nationwide to replace every lead pipe within 10 years. 'We’ve known for decades that lead exposure has serious long-term impacts for children’s health. And yet, millions of lead service lines are still delivering drinking water to homes,” EPA Director Michael Regan said. But in Los Angeles — where the discovery of contaminated water in public housing in Watts has shocked officials — the EPA mandate is unlikely to result in immediate change. When Regan joined Mayor Karen Bass on a visit to the 700-unit Jordan Downs complex this month, he suggested the brain-damaging element could be from household plumbing — a critical risk in older homes."
Gap #3: Is there enough funding to meet the 10 year goal?
Oct 14, 2024. Press Republican. NY on the hook for lead pipe replacements. "Municipalities, which are ultimately in charge of the pipe replacements, have jumped at the recent state and federal funding, but they may need more than is available. Every fiscal year since 2023, municipalities have applied for more than $300 million worth of projects. But each year, the state has only had a little over $100 million in federal infrastructure cash to distribute. Homeowners, landlords, or local water utilities must make up the difference — the latter, usually, by passing on the cost to residents through higher water bills."
Gap #4: The new law requires a plan. How can citizens find out about the plan? Who enforces the plans?
Oct 14, 2024. FOX13. MLGW lays out 10-year plan to replace lead pipes in Memphis. "Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) stated that the utility company stopped installing lead service lines in the 1950s but homes built before that time may still have lead pipes. Since 2012, MLGW said crews have replaced or inspected 9,000 lead service lines. The risk for homeowners to be exposed to lead usually comes from paint, dust, old furniture or jewelry. MLGW said lead in drinking water can happen from corrosion of plumbing materials made with lead. During a news conference Monday, MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen stressed the drinking water in Memphis does not contain lead when it leaves a water treatment plant. He said some homeowners could have lead pipes in their homes but that also doesn't mean lead will end up in their drinking water."
October 16, 2024. Natural Resources Defense Fund. Syracuse Lead Levels Among the Highest Detected in Drinking Water for Decades; Higher than Flint and Newark. "Syracuse is facing a drinking water safety crisis, as city tests reveal lead levels are more than double levels found by independent experts in the infamous lead in water contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan and significantly worse than those in Newark, New Jersey. Twelve concerned medical providers, residents, and national groups today sent a letter urging officials to declare a state of emergency in Syracuse based on the health harms threatened by the extraordinary levels of lead in the water. Their letter also pushed leaders to fully inform all Syracuse residents about the potential risks posed, and to take decisive actions to address lead in the city’s tap water."
OCTOBER 15, 2024. Louisana Illuminator. 88% of homes tested in New Orleans had detectable levels of lead in their water, study finds. "A local environmental nonprofit released a report on Saturday that says it found lead in the water of nearly 90% of homes it tested throughout the city over the summer. The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, which focuses on advocacy and awareness surrounding water policy and management, tested the water in 144 homes across 37 neighborhoods in New Orleans over the summer and said that 88% of the homes tested positive for lead. The group released its findings to the public at Tulane River and Coastal Center."
Story of the week
October 02, 2024. Press Release. Philanthropy’s Role in Ending a Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight, "Today, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) is taking action against one of the world’s most urgent and overlooked public health emergencies—lead poisoning. Through the Eliminating Lead Poisoning Innovation Fund, we are investing $10 million to drive bold innovations that will transform how we detect and fight lead exposure, especially in neglected low- and middle-income communities. As RPA President and CEO Latanya Mapp emphasized, “Lead poisoning is a byproduct of environmental and economic injustice, and it affects far too many.” In collaboration with Partnership for a Lead-Free Future (PLF), an initiative by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), RPA will tap its global philanthropic network to establish an advisory board of lead-poisoning experts and frontline communities. Here is the stark reality: over half the children in these communities have dangerously high levels of lead in their blood. Lead poisoning does not just harm; it devastates. It limits cognitive development, lowers IQ scores, and widens the already massive gaps in education and opportunity. This is a crisis of environmental injustice, killing 1.5 million people annually—more than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined—And yet, lead poisoning remains hidden in plain sight. Unlike many complex global issues, lead poisoning is surprisingly solvable with relatively low costs. In fact, Bangladesh eradicated lead in spices at a cost of roughly one penny per person. Atul Gawande, Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID, said it best, “We can end childhood lead poisoning. Innovation—for example, to make it easier to detect lead in the environment and in people’s bodies—can speed success dramatically.” Philanthropy is the engine that can make this innovation happen." (Emphasis added)
Around Cleveland
Cleveland City Council Health Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the Lead Safe Certificate Program at 9AM Monday, October 14th. Last year's hearing was the "emperor's new clothes" moment for the program. The Plain Dealer called out: Cleveland’s faltering lead-safe effort needs a recharge - and radical rethinking: editorial.
Question 1: One year later: How are we doing on that radical rethinking?
Question 2: While we're at it, what ever happened to the pledges of action to address CMHA failure to comply with Federal Lead Safe Housing Rule? Brave talk at the Council Health Committee back in July.
Around Ohio
Oct 2, 2024. WILO. Program at WOCAP seeks to prevent lead poisoning from affecting families "The West Ohio Community Action Partnership (WOCAP) is once again working to help families prevent lead poisoning from happening to them. Program at WOCAP seeks to prevent lead poisoning from affecting families. As part of their Lead Safe Program, they can provide services to homeowners or renters to get rid of lead in their homes. It's financed through a federal grant from the Ohio Department of Health. Lead comes from a variety of sources, but a big one is paint found in homes built before 1978. If you feel you may have lead-based paint in your home, contact WOCAP to start the process. 'During the process, we will actually educate the individuals about how to be safe in the home while they're waiting on the lead abatement. And once the lead abatement is scheduled, we will actually relocate the family, and we will cover the cost of food as well,' said Vance Cuthrell, housing program manager at West Ohio Community Action Partnership." Thanks ZakB for sharing
Around Us
Sept. 30, 2024 U.S. News & World Report Despite Progress, America's Fight Against Toxic Lead Far From Over, "Toxic lead continues to pose a danger to U.S. consumers despite years of progress to reduce exposure, claims a study spanning four states. 'Consumer products were consistently identified as one of the main sources of lead exposure -- and the only identified source in 15 percent to 38 percent of cases -- in investigations of children with elevated blood levels in these four jurisdictions,' said Adrienne Ettinger, a professor at Rutgers School of Public Health and author of a commentary that accompanied the findings." Here's the study: A Snapshot of Lead in Consumer Products Across Four US Jurisdictions
September 30, 2024. Press Release, United States Obtains Consent Decree Against Rose Demolition & Carting For Violating Lead Paint Safety Regulations "Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Lisa F. Garcia, the Regional Administrator of Region 2 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), announced today that the United States filed a civil lawsuit against ROSE DEMOLITION & CARTING INC. (“ROSE”), alleging violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) and EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (“RRP Rule”), and simultaneously entered into a Consent Decree resolving that lawsuit. The Consent Decree includes a $100,000 civil penalty and requires ROSE to take steps to mitigate potential harms caused by its conduct."
September 30, 2024. Detroit News. Special education fund to cover student services, address failures from Flint water crisis. "A $9.69 million special education fund established for children of the Flint water crisis as part of a legal settlement will include a framework to improve long-term special education services and support for student attending schools across Genesee County. The ACLU of Michigan; the Education Law Center, a New Jersey-based legal defense fund; and pro bono attorneys with White & Case have reached an agreement for the fund as part of the federal class action lawsuit brought on behalf of Flint children to address systemic failures in special education services in the wake of the Flint water crisis. Officials say the agreement, which took four years to negotiate, establishes a Special Education Fund that will cover special education and related services, paid for in large part by the State of Michigan, for all students within the Genesee Intermediate School District, which includes Flint Public Schools."
October 1, 2024. Health department rental registry website crashes as landlords try to meet deadline, "The Tuesday deadline led landlords to file en masse, leading some people to receive error messages when submitting information about their properties. A notice posted to the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) website stated landlords should try later in the week or next week and attempt to register again. The online notice also said that while the statutory filing deadline is Oct. 1, the health department is not issuing fines at this time." Just the credible threat of enforcement works wonders.
October 2, 2024. Investigative Post. $10 million plan to tackle Buffalo’s lead crisis "State grant will enable the county to hire additional staff to inspect houses for lead contamination. That's a major step forward given Buffalo's high rate of lead poisoning in numerous neighborhoods, mostly on the East Side. Erie County is expected to play a larger role in battling Buffalo’s lead poisoning crisis under a new state program that is pouring millions of dollars into health departments across much of New York State. While the state program won’t be fully operational until late next year, Erie County has already been told it can expect an additional $1.9 million in each of the next five years. The Erie County Department of Health plans to use the money to beef up its lead inspections unit, bringing on eight more inspectors as well as clerical staff to supplement its 18 existing public health sanitarians. By coordinating with the City of Buffalo — which is in the process of expanding its own lead inspection team — and working closely with Section 8 housing providers, Erie County hopes as many as 12,000 rental housing units can be inspected annually for lead. That’s five times more than the county currently inspects annually and double the approximately 6,000 units the city of Buffalo has inspected for lead since its own program began in 2021." That's how you know that lead is public enemy number one.
October 3, 2024. Times-Tribune. Scranton mother suing landlord claims toddler got lead poisoning from old paint in apartment. "In a lawsuit filed Sept. 27 in Lackawanna County Court, the mother, Kathleen Mulholland, names as defendants 961 Wheeler LLC, which owns the apartment building, and Vertex Management Group, which manages it. 961 Wheeler LLC has a registered office in Scranton, while Vertex is from Brooklyn. Efforts were unsuccessful Thursday to reach the defendants. Mulholland is represented by Community Justice Project, a nonprofit civil legal assistance organization. "
Oct 02, 2024. KTVH. Free blood lead testing for East Helena residents impacted by ASARCO site "East Helena residents who are within the Administrative Boundary of the Superfund Site are encouraged to receive free blood lead testing. 'The lead testing is just another opportunity, if you have concerns, that's available for you. And, you know, it's all about making sure our people are safe and that we're cleaning this town up to make sure it's a safe and nice place to live," says Kelly Harris, Mayor of East Helena."
October 3, 2024 WRVO. Lead poisoning top concern for residents during Onondaga County budget public hearing. "A handful of people spoke during a public hearing Thursday over Onondaga County's proposed 2025 budget, but concerns over lead poisoning stood out. Onondaga County resident Maureen Murphy spoke up about funding for lead poisoning, calling on the legislators to examine their consciences. She said a decline in lead prevention funding, regardless of any federal funding that's been awarded, is a failure." Sounds like the CLASH Mantra for 2025 Awareness, Activism, Advocacy and Governance.
October 3rd, 2024. Prism. Water lead levels in Troy, NY, surpass Flint’s at the height of crisis. "The city is starting to replace lead service lines and improve corrosion control, but obstacles, including years of inaction, remain. Troy, New York, is grappling with a severe water crisis as high concentrations of lead in the water running through the city’s aging pipes surpass those recorded at the height of the lead poisoning crisis in Flint, Michigan. The latest water quality report produced by the city shows lead in Troy’s water exceeds 35.4 parts per billion (ppb) at the 90th percentile of testing, surpassing the 25 ppb found in Flint about a decade ago. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prompts water utility owners to take action to reduce the levels at 15 ppb, and Troy’s water has been testing at or above that threshold consistently since at least the start of last decade, EPA documents show."
October 4, 2024. CBS Pittsburgh. Allegheny County Health Department releases new assessment on children with lead poisoning. "The Allegheny County Health Department recently released new numbers on how many kids in the county have lead poisoning. The results show 10 communities where 10-20% of the kids tested positive for lead, which can cause developmental delays, but many families can get free lead testing and remediation. That's what Stephanie Watson of Westwood got at the home she's renting. Paint is peeling off the exterior windows and other parts of the home that was built in the 1920s, and a lead inspection found lead in the paint, something common in paint before 1978. That's a big concern for Watson, whose daughter, Monique, has asthma, allergies, and cystic fibrosis, and whose son, Mykel, has autism. [.....] The Allegheny County Health Department's new assessment of lead levels is based on mandatory lead testing of kids at ages 1 and 2. It shows about 3.1% of children under 6 had lead poisoning in 2023. Certain zip codes have extremely high levels, including Wilmerding, with 21.7% of kids testing positive for lead in their blood, 21% in Neville Island, and 15% in Corliss, Sheraden, Braddock, and Rankin."
October 2, 2024.Press release Home Genesee County GENESEE/ORLEANS/GO Health is seeking community feedback on Lead Poisoning Prevention grant activities. "We want to know what you think about our efforts this year to help us plan for the future. Please take this short two-minute survey here, If you complete the survey, you can choose to give your address and you will get a coupon for a free dairy product. For questions or more information, contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 or Health.GOlead@geneseeny.gov. You can also visit GOHealthNY.org."
Lead in Schools
October 1st 2024 Seven on your Side. Alexandria school leaders address parents' concerns after lead exposure closes school. "Leaders with Alexandria City Public Schools, or ACPS, held an informational webinar Tuesday night to answer questions of parents of the elementary school they shut down last Friday because of lead exposure. Last Thursday, the principal of Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School sent a letter to parents informing them the school will be temporarily shut down starting the next day because of lead exposure as a result of a window replacement renovation project." Here's the follow up article: Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School could reopen next week after lead exposure.
Oct. 1, 2024. OaklandSide. Why is there lead in Oakland schools in the first place? "How years of industry lobbying, slow regulation, and lack of resources created a problem OUSD is still trying to solve."
A trove of academic studies
American Association of Pediatrics. Volume 154, Issue Supplement 2. October 2024. Thanks, AndrewN for sharing
BMC Gastroenterology volume 24, Article number: 344 (2024) Lead poisoning as a differential diagnosis in pediatric patients with chronic abdominal pain: a case–control study in Tehran-Iran "Chronic abdominal pain is a potential symptom of lead poisoning, which is often challenging to diagnose. This case–control study aimed to evaluate blood lead levels in pediatric patients with chronic abdominal pain."
October 2, 2024. HCP Live. Sickle Cell Disease May Play Role in Childhood Lead Poisoning Cases. "An investigation into New York City (NYC) lead registry data revealed a potential link between sickle cell disease (SCD) and childhood lead poisoning, implicating the public health need for blood lead level (BLL) testing and prevention guidelines for children with SCD.1.
September 2024
Around CLASH
Tremont Arts and Culture Saturday and Sunday was a huge success. Thanks to: Brian, Chantal, Molly and Tonya for their tabling support. Over 45 guests stopped by to ask questions and pick up literature. Eight signed up for Stay in Touch. Old friends stopped by to say hello and couple CLASH members stopped to introduce themselves and wish us well. Questions from passers by were challenging. We have some more research to do.
The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition will host our annual Faith and Leaders Environmental Health Impacts Luncheon on Friday Oct 25th from 11AM-2:00PM. in collaboration with the US Environmental Protection Agency. We hope that you will attend and invite fellow clergy members to attend from this region. The luncheon will focus on environmental health impacts of the natural and/or built environment, especially resulting from Pb exposure and air pollution in communities of concern. Space is Limited RSVP to (216-236-8027) or email info@neobhc.org or contact us for additional information. Date and Time: Friday, October 25 th | 11AM-2:00PM Location: Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown. 1100 Carnegie Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115.
Around Cleveland
CLASH is hoping to encourage city departments to send representatives to a Lead Safe Resource Fair on October 26.
Around Ohio
HUD Announces $87 Million to Address Health Hazards in Public Housing. "Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced more than $87 million for public housing agencies to evaluate and reduce residential health hazards in public housing, including lead-based paint, carbon monoxide, mold, radon, and fire safety. Through the Capital Fund Housing-Related Hazards (HRH) and Lead-Based Paint (LBP) Capital Fund programs, HUD is awarding 14 awards totaling $47.7 million under LBP and 22 awards totaling $40 million under HRH. Both awards underscore the continued work by HUD and the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that all Americans breathe clean air and live in healthy, safe homes. 'Far too many Americans, specifically children, are living in at-risk conditions, like older homes, exposing them to lead based paint hazards,' said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. The funding announced today will also help PHAs prepare to comply with the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE). NSPIRE improves HUD’s oversight by aligning and consolidating inspection regulations used to evaluate HUD housing across multiple programs. NSPIRE strengthens HUD’s physical condition standards, and fire safety, carbon monoxide, mold and moisture and lead-based paint are all standards that we enhanced with NSPIRE. Two Ohio PHA will receive grants: Greater Dayton Premier Management $3,516,531.00 and Harrison Metropolitan Housing Authority. $350,000.00.
September 20, 2024. Ideastream Public Media. Ohio House bill would require full replacement of lead drinking water lines. "State Representative Representative Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) is pushing for new legislation in Ohio to protect children and families from lead-contaminated drinking water lines. House Bill 534 would implement a comprehensive approach to addressing lead lines in the state by requiring the full replacement of all lead drinking lines within 15 years." Even more PR: Rep. Jarrells, Community Organizations Highlight Societal, Economic Benefits of Passing Lead Line Replacement Act in Cleveland.
Around Us
Sep 16, 2024. National Housing Law Project. HUD Seeks Input about Proposed Tightening of Permissible Blood-Lead Levels in Children. "HUD published a notice for comment in the Federal Register on September 11 seeking public input regarding its intention to revise the “elevated blood lead level” (EBLL) threshold requirements for HUD-assisted housing. HUD intends to lower the EBLL to 3.5 micrograms of lead per deciliter (µg/dL) of blood for children under the age of six. (The current threshold is 5 µg/dL.) HUD indicates that this action aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision to lower its “blood lead reference value” (BLRV) to 3.5 µg/dL from 5 µg/dL. Lowering the EBLL threshold is intended to support the expansion of environmental investigations and lead hazard control work. Comments are due by October 11."
Sep. 19, 2024. nj.com. Corruption, lack of resources make it harder for N.J. city to solve its lead dangers, "New Jersey’s capital city still needs to make progress on addressing pervasive lead issues — a series of problems made worse by a lack of resources, ongoing hardships to get more people tested and newly-reported federal charges against local government employees. Lead contamination was initially confirmed on the property of Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate School in January, prompting a cleanup and health screenings. Similar lead findings were made at three city parks. The district set a goal in January to test 600 kids at Grant but only roughly 130 students have been tested for lead, Trenton officials confirmed to NJ Advance Media. Another 130 or so city families received screenings during the summer, but it’s unclear how many of them were Grant students, according to Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora and Jim Beach, city chief of staff. City officials have knocked on 5,000 or so doors to spread information and offer free testing at city events, Beach said. The lack of progress on testing the kids, which the state and feds require, is a symptom of a larger dilemma, the mayor said."
Sept. 19, 2024. Bloomberg Law. AI Speeds Cities’ Lead Pipe Search With EPA Deadline Weeks Away. "Cities may report many pipes made of ‘unknown’ material. Detroit is among a few cities using a new artificial intelligence-driven tool to find lead drinking water pipes, saving the city millions of dollars and helping it in its scramble to meet the EPA’s Oct. 16 inventory deadline. BlueConduit, which was founded by University of Michigan researchers working to solve the Flint water crisis, is hoping the LeadOut Map will make drinking water systems better equipped to replace lead service lines more efficiently and at lower cost."
Around Us: Conferences Galore
September 19, 2024. Lawndale News. Chicago Department Lead Poisoning Conference. CDPH’s Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes program will gather renowned experts in lead abatement, public health, and healthy housing together on Tuesday, September 24 at the Lead Poisoning Prevention Conference. The all-day (8:30am- 4pm) conference will be held at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd. This year’s conference, under the theme, “Safe Spaces: Creating A Lead Free & Healthy Home Environment for All,” aims to make attendees more familiar with the CDPH Lead Poisoning Prevention and Healthy Homes program, emphasizing a holistic healthy home approach. This will be an interactive event featuring speakers, panels, workshops and educational exhibits. It’s open to the public, including community partners, health professionals, educational institutions, and government agencies. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with leading professionals, learn about the latest research, and gain practical skills to implement in their own communities. For more information and to register for the conference, go to chicago.gov/lead.
September 17, 2024. U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber and HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis host Safe Housing. "U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis hosted a Safe Housing Summit in Richmond on Sept. 16 focused on combatting sexual misconduct, promoting environmental justice, and protecting the civil rights of residents in HUD-assisted housing. The summit was attended by representatives from a number of organizations, including the Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority, Virginia Organizing, Community Climate Collaborative, Legal Aid Justice Center, Richmond Tenants Union, Storefront for Community Design, Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative, Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Virginia, Virginia Poverty Law Center, Discoverself Fellowship, United Communities Against Crime, and the University of Richmond."
Lead in Consumer Products
WHTM via MSN. Children’s gardening toys recalled for lead poisoning hazard "Nearly 500,000 Stanley-Branded Jr. Kids Garden Sets have been recalled due to a lead poisoning hazard, which violates the federal limit on lead in paint. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Red Toolbox USA has recalled about 459,200 units of the Stanley Jr. Kids Wheelbarrow and 7-piece Garden Sets because the painted long hoe and rake contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban, posing a lead poisoning hazard to children. Sold exclusively through Costco.
09/19/2024. Minnesota Post. Anoka ammunition company emitting elevated levels of lead. "A century-old ammunition plant in Anoka is the latest Minnesota company found to have emitted high levels of lead into the air, exceeding air quality standards and violating state and federal pollution regulations. Earlier this month, the EPA announced a settlement with Federal Cartridge Co., which must pay nearly $350,000 in fines after the federal agency found the plant to be polluting the air with unsafe levels of lead. To comply with the settlement, Federal Cartridge has also upgraded its facility with three new lead-controlling baghouses featuring high efficiency air filtration systems. The company, which manufactures ammunition, must also put in place what’s called scavenger hooding in areas where lead is processed to direct the emissions to those new filtration systems, as well as a plan to manage lead dust and monitor the air quality in and around the facility.
Remembering Flint
Sept. 17, 2021. Washington Post Flint has replaced over 10,000 lead pipes. Earning back trust is proving harder. "While other communities await the funding and the political will to overhaul crumbling water infrastructure, this monumental undertaking has demonstrated that it is possible for cities to rid themselves of the lingering health risk running into their homes — that, years from now, there could be a day when parents in America no longer need to worry that the water in their taps might poison their children. But the moment has also highlighted another truth: The end of lead pipe replacements does not mean the end of the catastrophe for many in Flint."
When you are ready to move from Awareness to Action, CLASH is ready to put you to work as a donor or volunteer. Nobody has to do everything, everyone should do something....
Around CLASH
Sep. 15, 2024. cleveland.com. Past time for Mayor Bibb to step forward on CMHA lead-poisoning Issues: Spencer Wells. In a guest column today, Spencer Wells, treasurer of Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing, urges Cleveland to extend requirements of its lead safe ordinance to Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority housing in Cleveland. "The Plain Dealer’s editorial calling for the removal of leadership at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) underlines the seriousness of the failure of CMHA to comply with federal regulations on lead poisoning. But firing CMHA’s CEO Jeffrey K. Patterson won’t solve the immediate challenges facing Cleveland’s leaders: making Cleveland lead-safe and protecting Cleveland’s children."
Around Ohio
WKRC How you can ensure lead pipes get replaced in Greater Cincinnati. "Leaders with Greater Cincinnati Water Works are asking customers to be on the lookout for a letter regarding an important update to their homes and businesses. More than 35,000 lead service lines currently remain across GCWW's service area. Staff with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and GCWW said those have to go. Service lines are the underground pipes that connect a home or business to the city's water source."
Sep. 09, 2024. Spectrum News. Statewide effort underway to remove household lead. "A multi-million dollar effort to keep you from getting lead poisoning is underway across the state. Local counties are getting grants so crews can fix lead problems on walls, doors and windows. Andrew Smith knew his house needed a new paint job, but he had no idea the house his family lived in for more than 20 years was covered in poisonous lead."
Sep 12, 2024.The Blade. Fostoria aims to 'Get the Lead Out' by first getting the word out. "Fostoria is one of 200 cities nationwide selected by the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Get the Lead Out” initiative to investigate the condition of service lines and, if appropriate, replace them to help reduce the risk of lead poisoning. The announcement was made on a sunny afternoon Thursday outside of the Fostoria Water Treatment Plant by Debra Shore, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Midwest regional office in Chicago. 'The science is clear: There is no safe level of exposure to lead,' Ms. Shore said. 'The effects are well-known and serious.' The first phase of Get the Lead Out involves a community assessment. Within 30 days, Fostoria officials will be going door-to-door, distributing door hangers, QR codes, and working with schools, libraries, and service groups to get as much participation as possible. In other words, the first order of business for Get the Lead Out is to Get the Word Out."
Around Us
September 12, 2024, The Rochester Beacon. The ongoing fight against lead "Thanks to the advocacy and educational efforts CPLP started in the early 2000s, instances of lead poisoning have decreased across the area, as evidenced by childhood lead blood level tests. In 2014, a study found that rates of lead poisoning decreased 2.4 times faster in Monroe County compared to all other counties from 1997 to 2011. Even with those superior results, potential danger remains in Monroe County primarily due to lead-based paint used on the area’s old housing stock." Nice overview of the Lead Safety movement in Rochester NY.
Around Us -- Consumer Products
September 12, 2024. WaPo. Lead found in several ground cinnamon products tested by Consumer Reports. "A new study by Consumer Reports has found concerning levels of lead in one-third of tested ground cinnamon and cinnamon spice blends, nearly a year after a recall of millions of cinnamon applesauce pouches alarmed consumers around the country." A couple of thoughts. Consumer Reports is hot for headline grabbers. Some of these products may be legitimately dangerous, others not so much. Read all the way to the end of the article to get some independent opinions.
Sept. 11, 2024. U.S. News & World Report FDA to Investigate Safety of Toxic Metals in Tampons The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it will launch an independent review into any possible effects of toxic metals found in tampons. The announcement follows the release of a study in July that found traces of lead and other metals in 30 tampons from 14 brands obtained from major online retailers and stores in the United States, the U.K. and Greece."
September 13, 2024. Food Poisoning Bulletin.com. Astronaut Strawberries Recalled For Elevated Lead Levels. "Astronaut Strawberries are being recalled for elevated lead levels. Because this recall notice was posted on the FDA’s Enforcement Reports Page, and not the regular recall page, there is no mention about whether or not any illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of this product. The recalling firm is American Outdoor Products of Boulder, Colorado. The recalled product was sold at the retail level in these states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, and in Washington D.C." This seems to be a developing story. Watch for more news as mainstream media pick up the story.
Around Cleveland
Lead Safe Advisory Board. 1:00 pm. Thursday, Sep 14, 2023. Virtual Meeting: https://cityclevelandoh.webex.com/cityclevelandoh/j.php?MTID=m5ac983291127d9ac32679b35fc14f74a Meeting number: 2301 370 4296 Password: 8YBj2PwhXK2 Are these meetings all virtual to reduce citizen comments or questions?
Around Ohio
August 28, 2024. Cincinnati Enquirer. About 50k people will get letters about lead pipes. Here's what to know. "Greater Cincinnati Water Works is aiming to replace 3,600 private lead lines a year, up from 1,200 a year now. Greater Cincinnati Water Works has been urging customers with lead pipes to replace them for eight years. Now, it will redouble that effort, at the federal government’s direction. The utility next week starts sending letters to owners of 35,000 properties it believes have lead in water pipes from the property to the curb. It will send 50,000 letters in all to cover renters along with property owners."
August 30, 2024 Business Journal Daily. TNP, YNDC Name New Leadership for Community Impact. "Kevin Stringer joins TNP [Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership] as a community engagement coordinator, where he will be responsible for program outreach for all TNP programs, and a direct focus on initiatives related to safe and healthy homes and outreach around lead safe housing."
Just Askin...
How many IQ points can you or your children or their children afford to lose?
How much random violence and antisocial behavior will make your neighborhood more livable?
How much chronic disease will make your life in the Lead Belt worthwhile?
How much do you want to pay for cleaning up Brownfields where lead contamination blocks redevelopment?
Around Us
Aug. 29, 2024. LA Times. L.A. mayor demands more testing after lead is found in Watts drinking water. "On the heels of an environmental study that found lead-tainted water in public housing developments in Watts, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has called on the city’s housing authority and largest water utility to conduct further testing for the potent neurotoxin. The discovery of lead-contaminated tap water in Watts, home to three of Los Angeles’ 13 major public housing complexes, has jolted city leadership and raised serious questions about the age of the plumbing that serves low-income residents. Although California banned the installation of lead pipes in 1985, the average home in Watts is nearly 77 years old, which makes the South L.A. neighborhood more likely to contain corroded lead plumbing."
Aug 28, 2024. WBAL Family exposes invisible illness with devastating consequences after rental home contained lead. Boy's family wants renters to know about their rights after lead poisoning diagnosis. " 'The problem is, a lot of landlords don't actually keep up with it, so we tend to get contacted from tenants about other problems, but then when you actually go and you start walking through the apartment or building, you'll be like, 'Oh, wow, there's deteriorating lead paint everywhere,' Indigo Null, a tenant advocate and organizer with Baltimore Renters United, said. With a sick child, Jojo's family wanted a home free of any lead and decided to move. 'It was a struggle just to be able to find a house that was lead-free for our son because most of the houses weren't,' Kiah told 11 News." Lead Safe ordinances are necessary, but not sufficient.
Aug 28, 2024. Chicago Sun Times. Legionella bacteria, lead found in EPA Chicago offices’ drinking water. Employees are demanding the problem be fixed and they want to be allowed to work from home until the water is safe. "The bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease have been found in the drinking water of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Loop offices, and employees are demanding the problem be fixed. High levels of lead and copper were also found in a pair of water sources at the offices. The EPA is the top government body in charge of protecting people’s health from environmental hazards. The agency’s employees 'believe that their office water fountains and restrooms should not put them at risk,' said Jeff Trevino, an EPA lawyer who works at Metcalfe." It's everywhere you look.
August 29, 2024. Two River Times [NJ Red Bank Council to Mandate Lead-Based Paint Inspections for Rental Properties "The Red Bank Borough Council discussed an ordinance at its Aug. 22 meeting that would require owners of rental units to perform mandatory lead-based paint inspections to comply with state law. The law, signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in July 2021, aims to prevent lead poisoning by identifying and addressing deteriorated lead-based paint in older buildings. The borough’s ordinance looks to ensure that all single-family, two-family and multi-unit rental properties built before 1978 are inspected for lead paint hazards at tenant turnover or within two years."
30 August 2024 Nature. Fetal exposure to toxic metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic) via intrauterine blood transfusions "Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the significant risk of fetal exposure to toxic metals, mainly Pb, through IUBTs. This underscores the critical need for prescreening blood donors for toxic metals to minimize the potential for long-term adverse effects on the fetus. The research stresses the necessity of balancing the immediate benefits of IUBTs against the risks of toxic metal exposure, underscoring the importance of safeguarding fetal health through improved screening practices."
Lead in School Water.
Aug 26, 2024. KRON. Students at Oakland schools with lead in water should get blood tests, officials say "Children who attend public schools in the Oakland Unified School District with high levels of lead detected in water fountains should go to the doctor for blood tests, county officials said. 'In response to recent concerns raised by the discovery of lead in water of Oakland Unified School District, Alameda County is taking action by expanding access to critical information. If your child attends one of the impacted schools, it is important to have them tested for lead exposure through their primary care provider. A blood lead screening, which can be a venous or capillary test, is the best way to determine exposure,” the Alameda County Community Development Agency wrote. Parents should have received a lead notification letter if their child is a student at one of the impacted OUSD schools, officials said. All blood lead screenings with results of 3.5 mcg/dL or higher will be automatically referred to the county’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. 'Do not drink' signs are posted in some schools following the discovery of elevated levels of lead in 186 fountains and faucets. Seventy of the 186 are over state and federal limits for lead." Read more here: Oakland Schools Vow to Step Up Lead Testing, But Teachers Aren’t Convinced. Why is this a story for Clevelanders? Last time CMSD tested lead fixtures was 2016. More on School Water Issues
Aug 27, 2024. Run water in drinking fountains to reduce lead exposure as NC students head back to school, expert says. “ 'We really find lead in our water because there’s a certain amount of allowable lead in piping, plumbing and fixtures,” explained Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, director of the environmental health and water quality program at Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International. 'When you flush water, you pull out the older water that’s been sitting and you bring in what would be water that’s been moving through the distribution system.' Hoponick Redmon is also the director of the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program, which works with public schools across the state to check water samples for lead. If lead is detected above 10 ppb, the program provides a fix."
August 28, 2024. National Conference of State Legislators. Peril in the Pipes: Protecting the Public From Lead Exposure. A summary of state laws enacted to protect children from lead in water.
August 2024
Around Cleveland
August 20, 2024. Beyond the buck: The high cost of affordable housing in Cleveland. "According to the Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research’s 2024 State of Fair Housing Report, renters in Northeast Ohio are more likely to live in areas designated as High and Very High Environmental Hazard Exposure Areas (EHEAs). This suggests that renters are disproportionately exposed to greater environmental hazards and toxins. Additionally, many Cleveland homes are older, with 75 percent of the housing stock built before the federal ban on lead-based paint in 1978, increasing the likelihood that lead paint can still be present in homes. 'What’s that connection between affordable housing? It’s not affordable for someone to be exposed to lead,' emphasized Austin Cummings, senior research associate at the Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research, an agency that promotes equal housing opportunities in Northeast Ohio. Living near or among environmental hazards and toxins can lead to a range of severe health issues like asthma, heart disease and cancer. Relocating to a safer environment may seem like the solution but is not a simple option explained Cummings, 'That’s not always the case for a lot of renters, especially if you are lower income, you don’t always have the ability to just choose freely.' " CLASH emphasis added.
Around Us
August 19, 2024. Joplin Globe, Mo via Yahoo. MDC seeking public input as remediation effort continues for Walter Woods Conservation Area. "The Missouri Department of Conservation is wanting to learn how visitors use the Walter Woods Conservation Area south of Joplin and also is inviting the public to ask questions about mining remediation scheduled to begin at the site next year. Although the nearly 70-acre area in Newton County on Dutch Elm Drive was never mined, testing has found lead levels in part of the area 10 times the threshold established for cleanup, according to the Environmental Protection Agency."
August 22, 2024.Wisconsin Public Radio. Wisconsin mother highlights effects of lead poisoning at Democratic National Convention "After 11 years of advocacy, Deanna Branch of Milwaukee steps onto national stage in Chicago" More here: Lead pipe removal takes center stage at DNC
August 23, 2024. Press Release. U.S. Attorney Announces Consent Decree With Legacy Builders For Violating Lead Paint Safety Regulations "Defendant Admits and Accepts Responsibility for Violations and Agrees to Injunctive Relief and a Penalty of $168,000. Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Lisa F. Garcia, the Regional Administrator for Region 2 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), announced today that the United States filed a civil lawsuit against LEGACY BUILDERS/DEVELOPERS CORP. (“LEGACY”) alleging violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”) and EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (“RRP Rule”). The U.S. simultaneously entered into a Consent Decree resolving that lawsuit. The Consent Decree includes a $168,000 civil penalty and requires LEGACY to take steps to mitigate potential harms caused by its conduct."
24 August 2024. Telegraph.uk Why Afghans are being slowly poisoned by their evening meal "Afghanistan has one of world’s highest rates of lead exposure and a mounting body of evidence suggests cookware could be to blame." More info on lead hazards for immigrant communities.
Around Us: School water fixtures
Lead and Water: Drinking Water Safety and Filtration. "Milwaukee Water Works monitors, treats, and purifies the city's water, but some older homes may still have old lead pipes which can contaminate the water source. Follow these simple steps to check for lead pipes in your home, reduce potential water risks, and choose a filter to keep your home's drinking water safe."
Aug. 20, 2024. NBC News. Oakland school district says it failed to properly warn parents about lead in water "The California school district admits that 'we did not communicate effectively to the members of each school community as the testing launched.' A major Northern California school district disclosed Monday that nearly 200 of its drinking fountains and water faucets have elevated lead levels and that parents were wrongly kept in the dark. The Oakland Unified School District, the state’s 11th-largest system, with more than 45,000 students, recently tested 1,083 of its campus faucets and fountains, looking for lead concentrations of more than 5 parts per billion (ppb)." Here's more: A concerned parent’s guide to lead contamination in Oakland schools
August 22, 2024. LAist. Lead in South LA water "Danielle Hauge, a doctoral student at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and the study’s lead researcher, said the project was prompted by community members. “A lot of people were seeing brown water come out of their faucets,” she said. Lead is tasteless and colorless, she added. At the start, community members just wanted to know what was in their water supply." More here: Study finds lead in tap water of Watts homes, including public housing units
Aug 22, 2024. CNHI news. Pa. shares in $26M of lead abatement dollars announced by The White House. "The White House announced $26 million in grant funding for schools and child care facilities to test water lines for lead, with Pennsylvania tabbed to receive $958,000. Delivered through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, all 50 states plus five territories and Washington, D.C. Money from the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act is intended to identify and confirm the presence of lead in drinking water supplies. Another $15 billion is available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help institutions replace lead pipes. The EPA will provide technical assistance to help communities take on such projects." More here: Biden administration allots $26 million to fight lead contamination in schools.
Check here for lots more information on Schools as Partners.
Around Cleveland
🙋Aug. 13, 2024. PD and Cleveland.com Link a deal on Browns stadium with commitment to children’s well being. "Shortly after reading Mayor Bibb’s Browns stadium proposal in The Plain Dealer, (”Mayor Justin Bibb goes public with $461M taxpayer-funded offer to renovate Browns stadium, asks Haslams to respond by Aug. 12,“ Aug. 1) I came upon Cleveland Councilwoman, Rebecca Mauer’s “From the Community” column (”Hope amid distrust -- Fighting for a lead-safe Cleveland: Rebecca Maurer,“ Aug. 2 ) regarding fighting for a lead-safe Cleveland. It struck me that maybe that these issues could be linked. It seems that once an agreement is reached on stadium/arena financing projects, there is always a dogged determination to expeditiously complete the job. That same kind of will and fortitude seem to be lacking in efforts to remove dangerous lead levels in Cleveland’s poorest neighborhoods. How about including a provision in any agreement that no game will be played in a new or renovated stadium until specific quantifiable substantive goals in removing lead contamination are met? This initiative might very well benefit from also being a public/private partnership. To provide such a linkage might attest to our community’s commitment to children’s well being as what truly makes us #1. Michael Tierney."
Around Cuyahoga County
Aug 14, 2024. Scene Cleveland. Bedrock Riverfront Project, Sherwin Williams R&D Center Get Millions for Brownfield Cleanup. "Seven development projects around Northeast Ohio, including Bedrock's $3.5 billion riverfront complex on the Cuyahoga, were awarded millions in state funds for brownfield remediation this week. Besides $10 million going to cleaning up the former parking lots south of Tower City Center." [ ..... ] "The dollars will be used to excavate sites of harmful pollutants, or, say, remove idling gas tanks, that would otherwise prevent construction from happening." A couple of items struck us as worth a little more excavation.
March 29, 2022. Bedrock to buy Sherwin-Williams’ old R&D site. "If the transaction closes in the coming weeks and months, the 9-acre site including the 140,000-square-foot Breen Technology Center, 601 Canal Rd., would be sold by the global coatings giant. SHW is building a new R&D complex in suburban Brecksville and a new downtown headquarters tower to the west of Public Square."
According to Encyclopedia of Cleveland History Sherwin Williams bought that site from John D. Rockefeller in 1885. "Sherwin's group bought the Standard Oil Co. cooperage building at 601 Canal St. in 1873; which became the company's first factory for the manufacture of paste paints, oil colors, and putty. At first, Sherwin-Williams continued the practice of selling ingredients that the customer then mixed together, but the company soon began to develop a reliable ready-mixed paint. Wikipedia cites Shewin-Williams awareness of Lead Poisoning. "In the July 1904 edition of its monthly publication, Sherwin-Williams reported the dangers of paint containing lead, noting that a French expert had deemed lead paint "poisonous in a large degree, both for the workmen and for the inhabitants of a house painted with lead colors."
February 7, 2020. Warrensville Heights to lose jobs, tax revenue in Sherwin-Williams facility consolidation. "The company purchased it from BP America Inc. [successor to Standard Oil of Ohio] in 2000 for $8 million, according to county property records. Property records indicate the building sits on about 80 acres."
December 15, 2023. Crain’s Cleveland Business via ICP. Sherwin-Williams sells Warrensville Heights technical center to busy developer ICP. "A voracious Northeast Ohio real estate developer has purchased the Sherwin-Williams Co.’s technical center, a 105-acre campus in Warrensville Heights. Industrial Commercial Properties LLC bought the property on Friday, Dec. 15. The parties would not disclose the price for the site, which includes 435,000 square feet of buildings." You gotta wonder who will pay for lead remediation at the Warrensville site.
Around Ohio
August 11, 2024. Cincinnati Enquirer. How safe are tampons? A scientist explains lead exposure following study finding metals. Another great lead safety story from cincinnati.com writer Elizabeth Kim. She weaves together a University of California story with a classic study from the University of Cincinnati and her recent reporting on lead in the faucets of a City Health Department facility. Kudos (again) Ms. Kim!
Around Us
Aug 11, 2024. KMTV. 'I wish I would’ve known it was coming from the floor and I'm laying my baby on the floor to do tummy time' "inCOMMON a local non-profit hosted its lead education meeting, to inform neighbors on how best to protect themselves and their loved ones. Noelle Smith with the Douglas County Health Department and Dan May with the City of Omaha Planning Department Housing and Community Development Devision [sic] share tips to staying protected."
August 13, 2024. Press Release EPA cites Denver building owner for not following lead-safe renovation requirements. "VareCo to pay $125K, settling alleged violations at multi-unit rentals. Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Denver-area property owner VareCo PM, LLC and its associated companies, resolving alleged violations of EPA’s lead-based paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule. VareCo has agreed to pay a $125,000 penalty to settle allegations that the firm conducted uncertified renovations at six multi-unit rental housing properties in and around Denver, Colorado. Several of the properties are in locations considered environmental justice areas. 'EPA is committed to ensuring the health and safety of tenants in Colorado, including in areas that have been overburdened by hazards like lead,' said KC Becker, EPA Regional Administrator. 'Individuals and families should also feel empowered to inquire about safe renovation and maintenance activities at their homes to help prevent harmful lead exposure.' ” CLASH emphasis added. More info here.
Aug 15, 2024. 'Actually a very difficult situation': Buffalo Water working to replace lead pipes throughout the city. “ Open Buffalo is joining forces with Buffalo Water to get the word out to our city of good neighbors to help homeowners find out if a lead service line is carrying water into their homes.“ Q: how will the Cleveland Water Department identify lead pipes when they don't test multifamily properties? "The water samples for our Lead and Copper Compliance Monitoring are taken from single-family homes throughout our service area that are known to have lead and meet the Ohio EPA's definition of Tier 1 Sampling Sites. Tier 1 Sampling Sites are defined as single-family homes that contain at least one of the following: Copper pipes with high lead solder installed between 1982 and 1989, Lead plumbing pipes, or City-owned and/or customer-owned lead service line. source: https://www.clevelandwater.com/your-water/lead-awareness/what-we-do
Aug. 15, 2024. OaklandSides. Elevated lead levels found in water at a ‘significant number’ of OUSD schoolsTests at Frick United Academy of Language showed levels more than three times higher than the EPA’s recommended threshold, teachers say. "Tests conducted by the district’s risk management team over the last few months showed levels in water fixtures above 5 parts per billion, the threshold set by OUSD’s clean drinking water policy. Affected schools included Hillcrest K-8, Edna Brewer Middle School and Frick United Academy of Language–more than a dozen schools in all, according to one parent who addressed Wednesday’s school board meeting. Lead poisoning in children can lead to learning disabilities, impaired hearing, blood disorders, and behavioral problems, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. OUSD’s policy, passed in 2018, directs district leadership to test sources such as water fountains for lead and take steps to remediate the water if lead is found at more than 5 parts per billion. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends remediation if levels exceed 15 parts per billion. Teachers and families attended the school board meeting to demand transparency from OUSD officials. At Frick United Academy of Language, one water fountain had levels of 51 parts per billion, according to teachers there." More here.
August 15, 2024. Food Safety Magazine FDA Issues Warning Letter to Manufacturer of Lead-Tainted Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches. "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning letter to Ecuadorian company Austrofood S.A.S., the manufacturer of the apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches that gave hundreds of children across the U.S. lead poisoning in late 2023."
Nice overview of a community wide lead safety strategy.
South Bend Tribune. 5 takeaways from Tribune Talks discussion about lead poisoning in St. Joseph County. "The South Bend Tribune hosted Tribune Talk: Lead in the Soil on Aug. 14 featuring panelists in the lead field who make daily efforts to understand and help residents with lead issues in St. Joseph County. Panelists included Marya Lieberman, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame and an analytical chemist for the ND Lead Innovation Team, Briannah McCall, Assistant Director of the St. Environmental Health Unit from the St. Joseph County Department of Health, and Kathy Schuth, the executive director of the the Near Northwest Neighborhood and co-founder of the South Bend Lead Affinity Group. The trio discussed their personal experiences of helping residents affected by lead in the county."
Around Cleveland
Aug. 07, 2024, cleveland.com. Firings in order for CMHA’s failure to protect children from lead poisoning. "The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority’s failure to protect children from lead poisoning requires nothing less than for heads to roll. CEO Jeffrey K. Patterson should be fired. This is about accountability. What happened here is so outrageous that we cannot trust the people running the agency now to right the ship. The agency’s response to a federal report criticizing its failure to protect children from lead poisoning is unacceptable and alarming. A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s inspector general’s report ripped into the agency for failing to properly test for lead. When confronted by the inspector general before the report was issued, CMHA had no explanation. But when CMHA brass appeared recently before a Cleveland City Council committee, they said they did the testing but failed to provide the paperwork. The council wasn’t buying that, and we aren’t either. It fails the sniff test completely. We simply don’t believe it. That’s an enormous credibility problem for CMHA, and it is why CMHA’s governing board should oust Patterson immediately. He’s the leader. He’s ultimately responsible."
August 9, 2024. Signal Cleveland. Cleveland residents, get your garden soil sample tested for lead contamination. "Clevelanders will have two chances to get soil samples tested for lead this month."
Around Ohio
Canton Repository 'Cloud has been lifted.' Reflecting on Republic Steel closure in Canton one year later. "For decades, the hulking Republic Steel mill provided hundreds of industrial jobs for the community — and produced, it seemed, just as many health and safety complaints. Then, last year, the unexpected happened. Grupo Simec, the Mexico-based owner of Republic Steel, announced it was shuttering its operations in Stark County, including its leaded steel mill on Eighth Street NE in Canton, and Lackawanna, New York. The news caught city and county officials and union leaders off guard, and sent workers scrambling to find new jobs." Nice review of citizen action against the plant which manufactured "lead steel". Let CLASH know if this article is paywalled when you get the link. We can help.
Aug 2, 2024. WDTN. Half of the U.S. population has been exposed to lead, experts say "The National Institutes of Health reports that half of the U.S. population — more than 170 million people — were exposed to harmful lead levels in early childhood. It’s a problem that continues even today, with lead being found in everything from imported products to food items. If you live in Montgomery County and have a child diagnosed with lead poisoning, the Montgomery County Health Department will likely be your first stop after those high lead levels are identified."
Around Us
August 8, 2024. Washington Post. Kids drink contaminated water at schools, but testing for lead isn’t required "Despite aging pipes and vulnerable children, schools face no national requirement to test for lead." [....] "Still, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release a new rule in October requiring utilities to test at all the elementary and child-care facilities they serve and offering to test at middle and high schools within the first five years. The rule would not require schools to fix the water if the testing reveals elevated lead levels in it, said Bruno Pigott, the acting assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Water, who said federal law does not give the agency authority to order schools and child-care facilities to clean up their water unless they have their own water systems." [ there's more ] "But lead service lines, which are a frequent cause of lead-filled water in homes, are often not the main source of lead in school water. In schools, lead often lurks in the building’s plumbing and faucet fixtures, tainting the water long after it leaves the public water utility’s treatment centers." More on school water testing here. You don't want to become another CMHA, right?
Aug. 7, 2024. Reuters. A US public health agency got it wrong. Here’s the toll of its errors. "The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was created to protect the public by assessing health risks at America’s most polluted sites. A Reuters investigation found it regularly downplays and disregards neighbors’ health concerns in reports that employ practices its own review board has called 'virtually useless' and 'not very good.' In 68% of its findings, it declared communities safe from hazards or did not make any determination at all, a Reuters review of hundreds of agency reports shows. Reuters found at least 20 instances in which the agency dismissed health concerns that other government research or the ATSDR itself later identified as hazards." Luckily none of the sites in the article were in Ohio.
Aug 6, 2024. MetroTimes ‘We the Poisoned’: Flint water scandal uncovered in explosive new bookInvestigative reporter Jordan Chariton reveals bombshells about what he calls “the biggest government cover-up this century” "Investigative reporter Jordan Chariton with his new book, We the Poisoned: Exposing the Flint Water Cover-Up and the Poisoning of 100,000 Americans. A decade after the Flint water crisis began, a new book chronicles the devastating impact on the city’s residents and how local and state officials covered up the disaster. We the Poisoned: Exposing the Flint Water Crisis Cover-Up and the Poisoning of 100,000 Americans was released Tuesday, and the 296-page book by investigative reporter Jordan Chariton features new bombshells that raise serious questions about the handling of the health disaster."
August 8th 2024. Erie News Now. MHEDS Launches New Initiative to Combat Lead PoisoningAmong Erie's Children & Refugees. "The Multi-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery System (MHEDS) has launched a new long-term initiative called Live Free, Lead-Free. The initiative was created to mitigate the alarming rates of lead poisoning among Erie's most vulnerable populations, particularly children and refugees."
Aug. 10, 2024. Syracuse.com. How ‘ticking time bombs’ caused lead levels to spike in Syracuse’s drinking water. "Syracuse has roughly 14,000 dangerous lead pipes that carry drinking water into homes across the city. For nearly two decades, the city hasn’t had to do anything about them. A chemical added to city water had kept recorded lead levels low in drinking water. But water testing last month found that 27 homes registered high lead levels out of 104 locations with known lead piping. The homes with high lead levels were so bad that the city’s average lead level among tested homes was nearly five times higher than the federal limit. Letters will be sent to every residence in the city..City officials say they are unsure why the sudden spike, saying that water treatment has remained the same from prior years. The culprit is not the big water mains, but the individual lines that bring water from the street into each home, they say." A CLASHer familiar with lead in water lines reminds us that "Chemical treatments work...until they don't"
Political leadership in Trenton NJ. Are you listening, Mayor Bibb?
August 9, 2024. Trentonian. Guest Op-ed: Mayor Reed Gusciora talks about the urgent need to ‘Get the Lead Out’ of Trenton. "Our city’s older infrastructure and housing stock, combined with historical industrial activity, have left a lasting impact on our environment. Recent testing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed what we feared—elevated lead levels in the soil across various areas of Trenton. This is not just an environmental concern but a pressing public health issue that demands immediate action." Wait...there's more....
"That is why we are taking a multi-faceted approach to address this crisis. In collaboration with the EPA, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and various non-profit organizations, we are undertaking a comprehensive effort to tackle lead contamination in our city. This includes testing children for lead exposure, inspecting and remediating housing, and cleaning up contaminated soil. To support these efforts and provide critical information to our community, we are hosting a Health Fair this Saturday, August 10, at Cadwalader Park. This event will not only offer a fun day out for families but also serve as an important opportunity to address the lead issue head-on. At the Health Fair, we will have mobile health units on-site to conduct lead testing for children. If lead is detected, we will offer counseling on the next steps and how to mitigate exposure. We will also provide information on identifying lead content in household items like toys, cookware, and dinnerware." CLASH emphasis added.
July 2024
Around CMHA
Jul. 24, 2024. Cleveland.com. CMHA’s shockingly lackadaisical approach to deadly childhood lead poisoning: editorial. "To their credit, Cleveland City Council is planning its own deep dive July 31 into what has kept CMHA from being a proper, aggressive steward of lead-safety hazards in its public housing units, especially in high-lead-hazard neighborhoods like Cleveland’s Central neighborhood. There’s simply no excuse for CMHA not doing all that it can to keep Cleveland kids in its units from the scourge of lead poisoning at a young age. There is no safe level of lead poisoning in the blood, which can cause irreversible brain damage and lifelong neurological problems and learning disabilities. Lead poisoning early in life has also been correlated with increased risk of exposure to violence later in life. Cleveland City Council wants the city’s Department of Public Health to do its own review of lead-poisoning among children in CMHA units -- an undertaking the city’s health department should shoulder. Given the sweep of negative HUD findings, all children in older CMHA units should be tested for lead poisoning as soon as possible. And CMHA, to dispel the suspicion it has not taken its lead-poisoning-prevention responsibilities seriously enough to date, must name its own lead poisoning special auditor to assess -- and report to City Council -- on all actions CMHA takes to correct these deficiencies."
Jul. 22, 2024. Spectrum News. Report finds housing authority did not report lead poisoning cases. " 'Allegations in this report claim were that possibly rooms were painted over before CMHA completed their investigations and we want to make sure that those repainting instances did not impact Cleveland’s investigation of these elevated blood-lead-level cases,' said Rebecca Maurer, Ward 12 Councilmember, Cleveland City Council. The council wants the city’s health department to conduct an independent review. They’ve asked to bring the parties together to find out where things went wrong. Dr. David Margolius, public health director for the City of Cleveland, said he's looking forward to having discussions with city council and said there is much more work to be done to make Cleveland a lead safe community. 'CMHA certainly needs the opportunity to explain all of the steps that they have taken and are taking to protect our children,' Margolius said."
July 25, 2024. Ideastream. Lead safety advocates react to audit that found CMHA failed to report lead poisoning in children. CLASH Board members Yvonka M. Hall and Andre P. White talked with WKSU about upcoming hearings at Cleveland City Council. See below.
Around Cleveland
Cleveland City Council's Health, Human Services and the Arts Committee holds a Special hearing about lead safety of CMHA properties. Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 10:00 AM EDT has been posted The meeting will be live broadcast.
July 26, 2024. Signal Cleveland. The MetroHealth School Program provides clinical services for the CMSD community. "The MetroHealth School Health Program began servicing the community in 2013, operating only as a mobile unit. Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), nearly $4.5 million was awarded to MetroHealth’s School Health Program in the spring of 2022 to renovate and expand their services and outreach. Since then, Clara E. Westropp School of the Arts, Glenville High School and Mound Elementary have been designated as CMSD Wellness Centers, which are places the CMSD community can go to receive clinic services." CLASH suggests that Metro/CMSD offer lead testing for preK and students under 6 years of age. The ridiculously lax state law requires testing at ages 1 and 2...or before 6 if not tested earlier. More here
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Around Ohio
Jul 24, 2024. WKBN. Gov. DeWine signs bill combatting lead poisoning. "A new law was passed in Ohio to combat lead poisoning. Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 226 into law Wednesday to help with the cost of getting rid of lead service lines. It allows public water utilities regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to replace customer-owned lines. The law also creates a system for customers to be reimbursed if they have their lead lines replaced. Representative Monica Robb-Blasdel of Columbiana County supported the bill. She says no one should be subject to the harmful effects of lead because of financial burdens. According to an EPA report, Ohio has 745,061 lead service lines, which is eight percent of the nation’s total of 9.2 million."
Around Us (lead safety news you can use back at home)
Jul. 28, 2024. MassLive. Does state’s lead law spur landlords to nix families with kids under 6? "A ruling is fast approaching in a federal lawsuit involving a local fair housing agency’s challenge of the state’s lead law for families with children under 6. In 2019, the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, a Holyoke organization fighting housing discrimination, and two families with children under age 6 took the state’s Department of Public Health, the Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health, and the Massachusetts Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program to court over a claim that certain provisions violate the federal Fair Housing Act. As the lead law stands, there are three provisions: Landlords must abate lead in a dwelling if a child under age 6 is living there or will live there; landlords can delay tenants from living there for up to 30 days while deleading a dwelling; and landlords cannot discriminate against renters because the unit does or might contain lead. The housing agency wants the judge to acknowledge the state’s violation of the federal law and says the state should adopt non-discriminatory policies. The agency also asks the court to bar the state from enforcing its current lead laws in the future, according to their complaint."
Jul. 19, 2024. WILX News 10. New Lead Poisoning Fund helps ease the stress of homeowners. "State health officials are trying to help make it easier to remove lead from homes. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is telling homeowners that they can get support through Michigan Saves‘ Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund. The Lead Poisoning Fund is the newest addition created by Michigan Saves to help fill the gap for those who do not qualify for free home lead services from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The program also offers a 50-50 cost share initiative to help alleviate the cost of a lead abatement project.
July, 2024. Unsafe Drinking Water Plagues Bryant Elementary. "In response to testing in 2022 and 2023, the San Francisco United School District (SFUSD) removed from service – by placing tape across them – or remediated all affected drinking fountains, including those used in food preparation. However, Bryant Elementary teachers and parents are skeptical that the remaining fountains are safe to use."
Jul 23, 2024. Salem News. DENT COUNTY HEALTH CENTER: Town hall meeting to be held on lead contamination."During the Health Center Board meeting held June 20, Administrator Zachary Moser announced that there would be a town hall meeting open to the public, scheduled for Aug. 1, 5:30 p.m. at the Salem Community Center. All community members interested in learning more about lead can attend the 'Understanding Lead' session to learn about its impacts and actions to take to reduce and prevent potential lead exposure. Moser, Trisha O’Neil, and Bobbi Kuczynski all agreed to meet with The Salem News to explain more about the event."
July 22, 2024. CBS Detroit. Detroit modifying rental ordinance to address property inspections, landlords in violation. This is another version of the stories we ran last week. New perspective here. CLASH will provide updates as this legislation moves through Council.
Jul 24, 2024. Valley Breeze Landlords won't be added to registry to verify lead safety until next year. "The launch of a mandated online rental registry database to verify the lead safety of rental properties across Rhode Island has officially been delayed until next year. Revised House Bill 7225, which was introduced by Rep. Marvin Abney on Jan. 18 and changed the launch date of the online rental database registry from September 2024 to September 2025, was passed by the House on June 7."
July 25, 2024. Jamestown Press. Town needs help with ID’ing lead pipes "The water department is asking property owners for 10 minutes of their time to help identify lead pipes connected to the distribution system. The department has until Oct. 16 to complete its inventory of service lines per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Service lines supply drinking water from the water main to the building. Civil engineer Jean Lambert, from the department of public works, said this ]primarily means steel service pipes that likely used lead solder.' She is estimating approximately 100 pipes need to be replaced in Jamestown. The two-page online survey has three questions following the steps to identify the property owners. First, they will be asked whether they believe the line is lead, copper, plastic or galvanized steel, based on 'appearance, testing or existing records.' ”
Lead is everywhere we look: the need for Universal Child Testing
July 25, 2024, Press Release. FDA Public Health Alert for Additional Ground Cinnamon Product Due to Presence of Elevated Levels of Lead "Through product testing conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and confirmed by the FDA, the FDA has determined that the ground cinnamon product listed below contains elevated levels of lead and that exposure to this product may be unsafe. The FDA is advising consumers to throw away and not to buy this ground cinnamon product. El Servidor Corp of Elmhurst, NY Mannan Supermarket, Inc. El Servidor El Servidor Corp Ground Cinnamon. he FDA has recommended that the distributor voluntarily recall this product. The FDA will update this notice with communication from the firm if they voluntarily agree to recall." Here's the USNews report.
July 22, 2024. North Carolina Health News. NC health workers detected lead contamination in applesauce that led to a nationwide recall, several lawsuits. "Local, state and federal public health officials worked together to respond to pinpoint tainted cinnamon in WanaBana pureed fruit pouches." Nice overview of the Wanna Banana poisoning saga.
USA TODAY. Lead paint is just the beginning: Poisoning danger lurks in pantry, toy. "Bans on lead in paint, gasoline and pipes have dramatically reduced lead poisoning that causes severe developmental problems in children. But another threat looms: More children have elevated lead levels from food and other everyday household items. New research has found that lead in baby food and earthenware cooking items are risks for parents and families. 'We have to begin to think outside the box,' said Melanie Napier, a public health epidemiologist with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which investigated toddlers who had eaten cinnamon applesauce tainted with lead. State and federal officials found hundreds of cases across the U.S. Napier said parents should be careful: 'It’s still important to get your kids tested even if you don’t think your child has had lead exposure.' ” emphasis added. Click here for more info on Universal Child Testing
JULY 23, 2024 phys.org Study of urban moss raises concerns about lead levels in older Portland neighborhoods. "Lead levels in moss are as much as 600 times higher in older Portland, Oregon, neighborhoods where lead-sheathed telecommunications cables were once used compared to lead levels in nearby rural areas, a new study of urban moss has found. The findings raise concerns about lead exposure in pre-1960 neighborhoods where the cables were common and in some cases are still in place even though they are no longer in use, said Alyssa Shiel, an environmental geochemist at Oregon State University, and the study's lead author." Here's the study
Nice Profiles: Maria Jose Talayero Schettino, Emily Benfer,and Marya Lieberman
Jul 24, 2024 Environmental Health News. Op-ed: How my family’s culinary traditions opened my eyes to invisible environmental threats. "Lead-tainted clay pots like my grandmother used in Mexico underscore the need for better environmental education among healthcare professionals. Every Mexican Independence Day, Día de Muertos and Christmas, my grandmother would lovingly prepare classic dishes like Pozole and Romeritos using her prized glazed clay pottery. As a child, these meals were the highlight of my year — flavors immersed in tradition, memories carved into each plate. The kitchen alive with the aroma of spices, the laughter of family echoing through the air and the clay pottery, glowing under a soft light, holding the essence of our heritage. It was a scene straight out of a book. But little did I know within those beautiful pots lay a silent intruder into our culinary traditions and bloodstreams, casting a shadow over our most cherished moments. Despite seven years as a practicing physician, I’d remained oblivious to this danger in our kitchens well into adulthood. The revelation came after I left the medical field and became a toxicology student in the U.S., when I realized that Mexicans were unwittingly exposed to lead through this beloved tradition, as the brain-damaging metal lurked in many of these clay pots, leaching into our food and drinks. It was a personal awakening to insidious environmental harms and the health profession’s inadequate training and response to them. Cultural traditions hold deep meaning in our lives, often forming the backbone of our heritage and identity. However, when cherished practices pose hidden health risks, such as lead exposure from traditional glazed clay pottery, the conflict between preserving culture and ensuring safety emerges. Despite well-documented dangers of lead, this practice persists in many Mexican households, partly due to a lack of awareness and insufficient intervention from the medical community. My journey of discovering this danger highlights the urgent need for better environmental health education among healthcare professionals and underscores the importance of finding solutions that safeguard both our traditions and our health. Cultural traditions hold deep meaning in our lives, often forming the backbone of our heritage and identity. However, when cherished practices pose hidden health risks, such as lead exposure from traditional glazed clay pottery, the conflict between preserving culture and ensuring safety emerges." Dr. Maria Jose Talayero Schettino was guest speaker at CLASH Faith and Leaders Luncheon last October and did a Video presentation at this Spring's Council of Social Work conference. Too bad no local media bothered to cover these events
July 22, 2024. Press release. Low-Income Tenants Find a Dedicated Champion at George Washington University "GW Law Professor Emily A. Benfer’s research sheds light on how the U.S. eviction system leads to health inequities. [.....] The clients represented by students in Benfer’s GW Law clinic are all from D.C., but students working with the clinic also engage in policy advocacy at both the local and federal level. Currently, clinic students are working on a federal bill to prevent lead poisoning in the federal Housing Choice Voucher program, a form of tenant-based rental assistance. Their efforts resulted in the introduction of a bi-partisan bill this legislative session." Professor Benfer was a guest speaker at NEOBHC Lead Convening in 2018. A copy of the clinic's analysis of the Lead Safe Housing for Kids Act is attached.
July 22, 2024 Press release. Taking her science to the streets. " 'The crucial first step in all science,' she explains, 'is to refine the question you’re trying to answer. You can have the most advanced analytical techniques, but if you’re not engaged in analyzing something that matters—that makes a difference to people’s lives—then your science won’t make an impact. That’s where the community comes in. When we’re asking questions that have to do with the community’s needs, then we are in a better place to work alongside the community in gathering data and implementing a solution.' The value of Lieberman’s approach became apparent in 2016 when she grew concerned hearing news reports about the number of children in the local community suffering from the effects of lead poisoning. Along with colleagues in public health, data science, and physics, Lieberman helped launch Notre Dame’s Lead Innovation Team, and she used her lab’s expertise to develop low-cost lead screening kits, which were ultimately provided free of charge to the local community.
Around Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
Jul. 16, 2024. cleveland.com. CMHA didn’t report child lead-poisoning, painted over potential hazards, violated other lead rules, HUD inspector general says. "The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority didn’t tell the Department of Housing and Urban Development about lead-poisoned children at its properties, and covered up deteriorating paint before determining whether it was the cause of child lead-poisoning cases, according to a new report from a federal watchdog. CMHA didn’t adequately inspect its units for lead hazards, and it repeatedly failed to notify tenants about potential hazards in their units – including in five units that later had a child with reported lead-poisoning, according to the watchdog."
Jul 16, 2024. WEWS. Report finds Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority with multiple lead-based paint violations "The latest report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority with multiple lead-based paint violations."
July 16, 2024. Ideastream. CMHA failed to report lead poisoning in kids, federal agency finds. "In response to the report, Lissette M. Rivera, a spokesperson for the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, wrote in an email statement that they are currently reviewing the Office of Inspector General's report."
July 17, 2024. wjw news via MSN. Inspector: Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority didn’t manage lead hazards or report sickened children
Jul. 17, 2024 WOIO. Cleveland City Council speaks out after HUD report shows lead exposure in CMHA public housing. "A recent report released by United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shows families who live in public housing in Cuyahoga County are at a greater risk of lead poisoning. Now, Cleveland City Council members are asking for an explanation and a solution. The 44-page report addresses the major problems and shows the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) did not have adequate oversight of lead-based paint in its public housing. According to the report, CMHA did not properly report children who suffered from lead poisoning. There were ten confirmed cases, but HUD was not alerted to any of them. There were also four additional cases HUD said they could not verify. Cleveland City Council members are asking for the city’s Director of Public Health to do an independent review. They are also calling for all children living in CMHA property to be tested for lead poisoning."
July 18, 2024, cleveland.com. Cleveland City Council demands answers on CMHA’s lead failures. "Cleveland City Council is demanding answers after learning the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority failed for years to consistently abide by federal lead rules – failures the Department of Housing and Urban Development said increased the risk of lead-poisoning among children in Cleveland’s public housing. Council on Wednesday announced it will hold a joint meeting of its health and development committees on July 31 to get to the bottom of findings from HUD’s inspector general, which released an alarming report on Tuesday outlining numerous problems with CMHA’s lead practices."
JUL. 19, 2024 Spectrum News. Report finds CMHA did not report lead poisoning cases "Reverend Darrick Wade lost his son to lead poisoning in 2007. He believes his son was exposed when the family lived in CMHA housing years earlier. He filed a class action suit against CMHA after his son and other children who lived in his housing unit tested positive for high levels of lead but said he dropped the suit after CMHA promised to address the problem. He said he believes CMHA is simply sweeping the lead issue under the rug. 'That's just incompetence. And I believe the type of attitude that it's okay, ‘We do what we want to do. We're in charge.’ But now it’s come back again,' Wade said."
Here's more details from the OIG report
1. OIG initiated the investigation because an earlier investigation found that HUD's enforcement of the Lead Safe Housing Rule was lax.
2. The Cleveland HUD office of Public Housing is in charge of enforcing the OIG recommendations.
3. HUD Office of Inspector General says: "Anyone with information about environmental hazards and unsafe unit conditions in HUD housing or fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct, or mismanagement related to HUD programs should contact the HUD OIG Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or reporting online at https://www.hudoig.gov/hotline."
Other CLASH NEWS
Wednesday, July 24th from 2PM-7PM. GET THE LEAD OUT OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS RENTAL PROPERTIES and Prevent Lead Poisoning at Cleveland Heights Community Center Rotunda, One Monticello Boulevard. THIS IS A FREE EVENT FOR TENANTS and OWNERS/LANDLORDS. REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED. More info here.
Kentucky Gardens at West 38th and Franklin hosts an EPA SoilSHOP on Saturday, July 27 from 10 AM-1PM. Have your garden or playground soil sampled on site in minutes by EPA staff. Here's how to prepare a soil sample to bring to SoilSHOP on Saturday.
Around Cleveland
July 16, 2024. HousingWire. HUD awards $325M in grants to rehab distressed housing. "The cities and housing authorities receiving additional grants are Phoenix ($2.5 million); Shreveport, Louisiana ($2.5 million); the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority in Cleveland ($2.5 million); the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority in Louisiana ($2.5 million); the Housing Authority of the City of Camden in New Jersey ($2 million); the Housing Authority of the City of Winston-Salem in North Carolina ($2.5 million); Lewiston Housing Authority in Maine ($2.5 million); and the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority in Virginia ($2.5 million). Emphasis added.
Around Us (because sometimes we can learn from advocates around the country)
Detroit Free Press. Detroit wants to change its rental ordinance: What to know. "In Detroit — where a majority of the housing stock is older and many are in need of maintenance and repairs — only 10% of rental homes have passed inspections that the city requires. City officials want to amend the city's rental ordinance to make it easier for landlords to bring properties into compliance, crack down on landlords with repeat violations and revamp a program that allows tenants to put their rent payments into an escrow account if their home isn't safe." More here:
Detroit’s Mission to Change the City’s Rental Ordinance and Hold Landlords Accountable.
July 22, 2024. CBS Detroit. Detroit modifying rental ordinance to address property inspections, landlords in violation.
This proposal seems similar to last year's Residents First legislation in Cleveland.
CLASH will provide updates as this legislation moves through Council.
Jul 15, 2024. Desert Review. CDPH advises about the dangers of lead exposure. "The California Department of Public Health in coordination with the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch released an informational on how to protect oneself and family from lead exposure. The release is broken down into three sections which begins with information about lead exposure and firearms. As hunting, outdoor target shooting, and indoor range shooting are common frequented in the valley, the importance of lead exposure safety is imperative. Using firearms has the potential of exposing people to dangerous levels of lead poisoning the release stated. For those that do spend time at a shooting range, with firearms, or handling ammunition, them or their family may be at risk of lead poisoning. As per CDPH Occupational Lead poisoning Prevention Program, persons using ammunition with lead primers or lead bullets are exposed to lead from the gun smoke that is released when the gun is fired."
Jul 16, 2024. Saanish News. Two lead poisoning cases linked to herbal medicines: Fraser Health. "In a news release Monday, Fraser Health stated the two cases are likely connected with consuming Ayurvedic medicines or opium-containing products. Fraser Health notes that some Ayurvedic medications may contain high levels of heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, arsenic and other toxins. Some of these products may contain opium and are prepared from the poppy plant — called doda and afeem." More here: 2 B.C. lead poisonings likely linked to herbal medicines prompts warning. See Lead and consumer products for background.
July 16, 2024.UrbanCNY.com. CNY Community Foundation Committing Additional $1 Million to LeadSafeCNYNeighborhoods, "The Central New York Community Foundation announced today that it will be investing an additional $1 million toward childhood lead poisoning prevention through its LeadSafeCNY initiative. Since the Community Foundation’s LeadSafeCNY grantmaking launched in 2018, nearly 1,750 windows and 165 doors have been replaced and more than 265 safe and affordable rental units have been either newly constructed or renovated. More than 280 individuals have been trained on proper lead paint removal and thousands of people have been informed about the risks of lead poisoning. In addition, 44 homebuyer loans for new, lead-free homes were guaranteed through a program-related investment with HomeHeadQuarters."
July 17, 2024. Business Wire. Study Shows up to 38% of Childhood Lead Poisoning Cases are Linked to Consumer Products in Four Key US Regions/Areas. "Researchers call for a national tracking database and intervention in countries where the lead contamination originates. First-of-its-kind study examines sources of lead poisoning in 2,000 cases across New York City, King County, Washington, California and Oregon. Researchers found that consumer products (e.g., spices, cosmetics, metal cookware, and ceramics) were a source of lead exposure in 15 to 38% of lead poisoning cases. Authors call for a national database of consumer products associated with lead poisoning cases; urge stakeholders to work together to prevent contamination at its source." Here's the study. Keep in mind that the findings pertain to the study areas (a snapshot). It does not mean that other areas aren't affected by lead in consumer products.
Around Cleveland
Cleveland Heights will be holding a Lead Awareness Event on July 24th from 2PM-7Pm at the Community Center Rotunda. CLASH will be promoting the event, providing lead safety information and conducting voter registration at the event. Stop by and say "hi".
Around Ohio
July 8, 2024. Cincinnati Enquirer Report: Bobbie Sterne Health Center dental faucet contained lead 8 times the federal limit "Tap water from a sink in a city-run health clinic contained over eight times the federal limit for lead, according to an email announcement from city health officials. Water from the sink, which was in the dental exam room of the Bobbie Sterne Health Center, contained a lead level of 123 parts per billion, according to a report from Greater Cincinnati Water Works, the water utility owned by the city. The report recommended immediately replacing the faucet fixture and re-testing the water afterwards." This is an update from the story we ran last week. Congratulations to Elizabeth Kim from the Enquirer for following up.
July 10, 2024 Delaware Gazette. DCDL helping keep patrons safe from lead poisoning. "Recently, our partners at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) contacted the Delaware County District Library system regarding an initiative of their Ohio Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (OHHLPPP). As people in the United States average about half of their day in their homes, an unhealthy home can contribute to numerous adverse health outcomes. Additionally, as two out of three homes in Ohio may have lead paint, it’s important for families to learn of the harmful effects that lead can have on adults and children. To help combat the prevalence of lead in children under the age of 6, organizations like the ODH and Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, have created a set of informational tools free and available to the public through your local library. Beginning this Monday, all Delaware County District Library locations will have the free board book 'Thanks for Keeping Me Lead-Free' available in English and Spanish for patrons to take and keep. The brightly illustrated board book tells the stories of families and friends living their everyday lives while making smart choices to avoid lead contamination. The book ends with 10 easy 'Do’s” and Don’ts' for families to stay safe from lead poisoning. They include keeping exposure away from the family by leaving shoes at the door or showering after work, keeping food and water safe by installing a filter or cooking with lead-free pots and pans, and keeping homes safe by having a lead inspection before moving in or covering chipping paint. Visit www.ohioaap.org/lead/familyresources to read the full list and preview the book. It's a start, right?
JUL 11, 2024. ODH: Lead a ‘serious health risk,’ target for programs. "STEUBENVILLE — Drivers may have noticed a couple of billboards in the city regarding lead poisoning education and prevention. One on North Third Street — bearing a teddy bear cartoon and stamped with the Ohio Department of Health logo — advises area residents: “Protect your kids from lead paint” and encourages visiting odh.ohio.gov/lead." Seriously, if billboards and board books were the solution, there would be no lead poisoning in Ohio...instead Ohio's rate of lead poisoning is more than double the national average.
Around Us: Lead Pipe Replacement
JULY 8, 2024. NPR. Debate flares over how quickly to replace many lead service lines "With the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest — and strictest — plan to minimize the risk of Americans drinking lead-contaminated water on the horizon, the debate over whether the agency’s proposed rules go too far or not nearly far enough is heating up. The proposal from the Biden administration differs from rules put out in the waning days of the Trump term that allow up to 30 years for service line replacement, triggered only when lead levels test higher than 15 parts per billion. The new proposal, which would largely supplant the Trump rules, calls for stricter monitoring, enhanced public education, and the 10-year pipe replacement mandate regardless of lead levels."
July 9, 2024. Bloomberg News. Despite Mandate, Chicago Lead Pipe Replacement Is 50 Years Away. "When Vanessa Bly spent a day watching a lead service line get replaced outside a home in the Southeast Side of Chicago, she got a sobering look at the city’s sluggish approach to one of the nation’s most pressing environmental issues. 'There was so much machinery. There were so many people coming in and out for this one house,' she said. 'No one can drive through the block the entire day.' said Bly, co-founder of the community organization Bridges//Puentes Justice Collective of the Southeast. She wondered why, for all the disruption and investment, the city didn’t also replace pipes in other homes on that block."
JULY 10, 2024. Kaiser Health News. Why the Election May Slow Plans To Replace Lead Pipes "With the Environmental Protection Agency’s latest — and strictest — plan to minimize the risk of Americans drinking lead-contaminated water on the horizon, the debate over whether the rules go too far or not nearly far enough is reaching a tipping point. Although lead was banned from new water service lines in 1986, it’s estimated that more than 9 million such lines still carry drinking water to homes and businesses throughout the country. Under the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements proposal, water utilities would be required to replace all lead-containing lines within 10 years. The proposal from the Biden administration builds on different rules put out in the waning days of the Trump term that allowed up to 30 years for service line replacement, triggered only when lead levels test higher than 15 parts per billion. The new proposal, which would largely supplant the Trump rules, calls for stricter monitoring, enhanced public education, and the 10-year pipe replacement mandate regardless of lead levels. An October deadline looms for the new rules to be adopted; otherwise, enforcement of the less-stringent Trump administration rules will begin. And complicating matters more: November’s election results could shake up whose rules the nation must follow."
Around Us -- Buffalo Citizens are Revolting
Jul 11 2024. Investigative Post. Buffalo sued over inner-city lead poisoning. "Lawsuit contends City Hall has failed to adequately enforce a law requiring the inspection of rental properties for the presence of lead paint. Tenants and community organizations are taking the City of Buffalo to court, contending it is failing to enforce rental inspection laws aimed at reducing lead paint in the city’s aging housing stock. The inspection law, enacted in 2020, was in response to the large number of children testing with high levels of lead in their blood. City inspectors have conducted relatively few inspections since then, according to the lawsuit. 'By not implementing the law, and really by failing to inspect and regulate rental housing in the city of Buffalo for decades, they are not providing a clean and healthful environment for the city’s renters,' Andrea Ó Súilleabháin, executive director of the Partnership for the Public Good, told Investigative Post.
11 Jul 2024. The Buffalo News via YouTube. Steven Haagsma of Housing Opportunities Made Equal talks about lead paint exposure among Buffalo's."Steven Haagsma of Housing Opportunities Made Equal compares lead paint exposure among Buffalo’s children to the lead crisis in Flint, MI."
Jul 11, 2024. WKBW. Community organizations and residents sue City of Buffalo for failure to implement rental inspections law. "Community organizations and residents came together on Thursday to announce that they are suing the City of Buffalo for failure to provide safe rental housing. The petition filed in Erie County Supreme Court claims The City of Buffalo, Mayor Byron Brown, and Catherine Amdur, Commissioner of Permit and Inspections Services, are dragging their feet when it comes to fully implementing the Proactive Rental Inspections Law or PRI. 'We are asking for an order that compels the respondents, city, and officials, to comply with the legal duties that they have not been complying with,' said Matt Parham, Director of Litigation and Advocacy, at the WNY Law Center. The PRI law protects people living in rental housing from lead paint and other health and safety hazards. The Buffalo Common Council unanimously adopted the law in 2020."
FWIW there are interesting connections between Cleveland and Buffalo. In 2019, Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition co-founder Dan Cohn wrote: "Recognizing this, leaders in Cleveland and Buffalo have built strong public–private partnerships to deploy new tools that assist landlords with making improvements to their properties. These improvements are necessary to ensuring low-income families’ access to healthy and affordable rental housing."
Around Us--Environmental Justice, pay now...or later
Jul 11, 2024. NextCity. This City Covered Up a Contaminated Park For Decades. Now What?. "In Greensboro, North Carolina, city leaders will soon vote on the future of Bingham Park – a decision which could impact Black and low-income residents for generations to come. "Between the 1920s and 1950s, the site served as an incinerator and landfill for waste from the U.S. military and Guilford County. Landfills weren’t lined back then, allowing for a host of adverse compounds to leach into the site’s soil and groundwater. Then, in the 1970s, the city covered up the landfill and called it Bingham Park. Until April of this year, the park was open — with precautions. Signs posted around the property warned visitors to not eat the dirt or drink from the stream that runs across the grounds. But once new guidance around acceptable lead levels in soil from the Environmental Protection Agency dropped in January, the city rushed to close down the park three months later and put up the fence. 'They didn’t even tell us they were putting up the gate,' says longtime Bingham Park area resident Antwuan Tysor. 'That was a shocker.' ”
July 9, 2024. Boulder Reporting Lab. As Boulder considers closing its municipal airport to address housing shortage, lead concerns also emerge "There has never been a dedicated scientific study on the effects of leaded aviation fuel on children’s blood lead levels in Boulder. But peer-reviewed studies from other communities that found high lead levels in the blood of children near airports are drawing attention. Boulder residents will likely vote this November on whether to decommission the Boulder Municipal Airport and develop the land for housing. Advocates aim to address this controversial issue by putting it directly before voters. The Airport Neighborhood Campaign, which is behind two measures — one to close the airport and another to turn the land into a mixed-use neighborhood with affordable housing — has gathered enough signatures to place them on the ballot. The measures now await final approval from the city council."
EPA offers a training/orientation on EJScreen Mapping Tool on July 24th. Trainings and Office Hours on EJSCREEN 2.3, EPA’s Environmental Justice Mapping Tool. This summer, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will update EJScreen, the Agency's publicly available environmental justice (EJ) screening and mapping tool. The updated version, EJScreen 2.3, makes important improvements to better meet the needs of users, including new environmental indicators and map layers, interface improvements, and updated demographic and environmental data. This new version of EJScreen will make interface changes aimed at helping users better understand the data and modernizing aspects of the tool. The main purpose of these annual EJScreen updates is to incorporate the newest available demographic and environmental datasets.
Around Us-Testing properties
Jul 9, 2024 Union Leader Lead-safe proof required for newly licensed child care centers and newly-renovated rental housing built before 1978. "Starting this month, newly licensed or newly leased child care centers and rental housing must provide evidence of lead paint safety under a new law aimed at preventing childhood lead exposure. The law, part of a state Senate bill enacted in 2018, requires newly-licensed child care centers and landlords of newly renovated rental housing, in structures built before 1978, to get a lead-safe certificate issued by a licensed New Hampshire risk assessor. The rule, effective July 1, does not require preexisting rental properties, owner-occupied housing, or previously licensed child care facilities to obtain the certificate." 🤷 Hey Ohio Department of Health: Certifying child care centers to be lead safe is a good idea. You should try it.
About Us--Immigrant households
JULY 8, 2024. WFYI. How do language barriers affect lead education outreach efforts? "Lead exposure can lead to long-term consequences for children, especially if not caught and treated quickly. Outreach on the risks of lead often falls to health departments, but what happens when there is a language barrier? Maryori Duarte-Sheffield moved to the United States from Venezuela 24 years ago. She said, at the time, she didn’t know anything about lead and its risks. More than two decades later, she is helping other Spanish-speaking community members through the Marion County Public Health Department." This is a serious problem for two reasons. Immigrant communities often use lead products from their native countries in their new homes...and often immigrant households are relocated into older less well maintained homes. Akron Children's hospital has provided leadership in language and cultural outreach...health providers and immigrant services in Cuyahoga...not so much. More info at https://www.clashcle.org/resources/resources-for-families/resources-for-immigrant-communities
no date. press release. Innovation Award for Equity, Racial & Social Justice. "A joint team from the Water and Land Resources Division of the Department of Natural Resources (DNRP) and Parks and the Environmental Health Division of Public Health – Seattle and King County received the 2023 Best-Run Government (BRG) Innovation Award for Equity, Racial & Social Justice. The project team took significant and decisive action to address the health risks that exposure to lead in aluminum cookware posed to Afghan refugee children – and then broadened new protective measures to help residents throughout the county and state."
Around Cleveland
Jul 5, 2024. Cleveland Scene. Cleveland to Close McCafferty Health Center in Ohio City, Redevelop Site for Affordable Housing. "The city is looking for another location for the clinic in the neighborhood." CLASH says: Under Margolius' leadership, the Cleveland Department of Public Health continues to drift away from providing direct services to low income, uninsured families.
Where are the 2 Mobile Testing vans that the city purchased and outfitted in 2021?
How would citizens find out where they are parked on any given day? How many Clevelanders have been served since the vans were rolled out? Are services available on evenings and weekends when families aren't at work? Why won't they provide child lead testing?
Around Ohio
Jul 5, 2024. WKBN. Local city to host lead safety event with EPA "The City of Warren Water Department is helping bring awareness to removing lead from homes and creating safe environments. The 'Get the Lead Out' event will feature speakers from the EPA, as well as the city’s top and water department officials. The event will take place on Monday, July 8 from 6-7 p.m. at the Municipal Justice Building on the first floor."
July 3, 2024. Cincinnati Enquirer. Lead detected in water at Cincinnati health clinic that serves city's poor "Higher than acceptable levels of lead were found in eight water sources throughout the Bobbie Sterne Health Center. Tap water from multiple locations inside Cincinnati's Bobbie Sterne Health Center in Over-the-Rhine contains lead at levels that are higher than acceptable limits. The health center, which serves thousands of poor men, women and children every year, confirmed Wednesday that the Cincinnati Health Department and the Greater Cincinnati Water Works discovered the lead after testing 55 water sources throughout the clinic. Health Department spokesman Jose Marques said eight water sources contained lead particles 'above acceptable lead levels for drinking,' based on recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency." There's a background story here. So many questions unanswered. The clinic appears to be operated by Cincinnati Health Department. If the investigation was triggered by a child with an elevated blood lead level...is the Health Department inspecting their own facility?
July 3, 2024. HUD report finds CMHA, contractor didn't comply with federal housing standards. "The results of the June audit led to the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority not renewing its contract with CGI. [.....] The audit reports that CMHA "did not comply with HUD’s reporting and data collection requirements of the Lead Safe Housing Rule for cases of children with elevated blood lead levels.” There's more: "The HUD Office of the Inspector General also found the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority did not adequately collect and report data related to elevated lead levels in young children's blood. 'It is imperative that Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) ensure that their inspections are conducted in an effective manner that not only identify unit deficiencies, but also ensure that those deficiencies are repaired timely,' said HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis in a release. 'Additionally, PHAs should guard against Elevated Blood Lead Levels going unreported because of the severe adverse health effects associated with exposure to lead.' CMHA responded that, 'as noted in the HUD OIG's report, CMHA took prompt action during the audit to further develop and implement comprehensive policies and procedures that ensure compliance with the Lead Safe Housing Rule.' That includes collaborating with local health departments to monitor and address lead hazards, CMHA stated." A couple points need more attention
1. Under the Lead Safe Housing Rule, the Housing Authority is responsible to contact families living adjacent to units where a child was found to have an elevated blood level and inspect their units for lead hazards.
2. Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority which "fired their contractor CGI Federal" is a collaborator with CGI Federal in a non-profit HUD contractor called Assisted Housing Services Corporation (AHSC) which is responsible for monitoring a different HUD program: Project Based Rental Assistance for Ohio and DC.
3. Has anyone confirmed that the Columbus Health Department is following up on these cases? A simple yes or no would be satisfactory so as to not disclose medical information.
4. Will HUD audit the Assisted Housing Services Corporation to see if AHSC is in compliance with the HUD Lead Safe Housing Rule?
Around Us
07-01-2024, Concord Monitor. New Hampshire enforces stricter rental property lead safety regulations. "Starting this month, New Hampshire will enforce a significant change to its lead law to reduce exposure in buildings constructed before 1978, which is expected to lower the number of young children exposed to lead hazards. The new section of the law requires that New Hampshire properties built before 1978 and converted into rental housing after July 1, must obtain a Lead-Safe Certificate from a licensed NH Risk Assessor. However, it does not apply to existing rental properties or owner-occupied properties."
July 1, 2024. WCCO. Dupree Edwards overcomes brain damage from lead poisoning, advocates for others with disabilities. "His smiles are big and his pain is too. Edwards got lead poisoning as a child, which damaged the frontal lobe of his brain."
Jul 2, 2024. WPSD. Nearly 150 ZIP codes added to high-risk lead testing list. On July 2 the Illinois Department of Public Health expanded the list of high-risk ZIP codes, increasing mandatory testing for lead exposure of children who live within those areas. These 148 zip codes cover parts of 60 Illinois counties and have brought the total number of high-risk ZIP codes to almost 1,200. According to IDPH, high-risk ZIP codes are determined through an algorithm that assesses a number of different risk factors. The department has been expanding that list of ZIP codes gradually and expects to implement universal testing for lead exposure across all Illinois ZIP codes by 2026. Under Illinois law, any child residing in a high-risk ZIP code is to be tested automatically at 12, 24, and 36 months and all children six years of age and younger are required to be assessed for lead exposure through the use of a questionnaire administered by a pediatrician. According to IDPH, blood tests that come back with lead levels in excess of five micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) require a public health intervention. This includes a home inspection to determine the source of the lead contamination. If lead is found, the inspector will work with the homeowner to remove the sources of lead. In addition, there will also be a visit from a public health nurse who will educate the family on ways to protect children from the harmful effects of lead. Emphasis added by CLASH.
Jul 5, 2024. WICA. Urbana doctor explains the rise in at-risk ZIP codes for lead exposure
July 3, 2024. Science Direct. Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s. "We found measurable concentrations of all 16 metals assessed. We detected concentrations of several toxic metals, including elevated mean concentrations of lead (geometric mean [GM] = 120 ng/g), cadmium (GM = 6.74 ng/g), and arsenic (GM = 2.56 ng/g). Metal concentrations differed by region of tampon purchase (US versus European Union/United Kingdom), by organic versus non-organic material, and for store- versus name-brand tampons. Most metals differed by organic status; lead concentrations were higher in non-organic tampons while arsenic was higher in organic tampons. No category had consistently lower concentrations of all or most metals." Here's the press release. More here
July 5, 2024 WCCO Worried about your family’s exposure to lead paint? It’s easy to test to find out "The good news is that Hennepin County makes it easy for families to take the first step to address potential lead dust in their homes. To determine if there’s a health risk, Hennepin County residents can turn to the Neighborhood HealthSource clinics as an accessible, affordable resource. The non-profit clinics work closely with the Hennepin County Lead Removal Program to provide free blood testing for families."
July 5, 2024. JD Supra. Maryland Requires Baby Food Manufacturers to Test for Toxic Heavy Metals. "We want to inform you of a new law in Maryland, effective January 1, 2025, that mandates baby food manufacturers to test for toxic heavy metals, excluding infant formula. Known as Rudy’s Law, this legislation was inspired by the case of young Rudy Callahan, who suffered lead poisoning from contaminated applesauce.
Are you ready to speak out, Ohio MDs?
July 1, 2024. WGRZ. Doctors call on city leaders to address lead problems "Buffalo physicians and medical professionals are urging city leaders to address lead levels in a letter released today. The letter signed by 80 medical professionals and the New York State Chapter 1 of the American Academy of Pediatrics, called on officials to fully implement the Proactive Rental Inspections (PRI) Law in order to prevent childhood lead poisoning. The PRI aims to reduce the alarmingly high rates of lead poisoning among children in Buffalo. It was passed in 2020, but four years later, the letter cites that '87% of the 36,000 units covered under PRI have not undergone inspection' ".
Jul 01, 2024. WKBW. 'We owe it to these kids': Doctors pushing for City of Buffalo to enforce lead inspection law. "Dr. Melinda Cameron, former medical director of the Western New York Lead Poisoning Prevention Resource Center, said when the law was enacted in 2020, she expected things would move slowly due to COVID. But four years later she said it's time to re-address the issue. Dr. Cameron said lead is a silent toxin."
June 2024
CLASH News
Jun. 30, 2024. cleveland.com. Time to clean house at the Lead Safe Advisory Board to put Cleveland babies first. "Nearly eight months ago, The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com editorial board recommended that, 'Cleveland’s faltering lead-safe effort needs a recharge - and radical rethinking' (Nov. 1, 2023). Restructuring the city’s Lead Safe Advisory Board can help with that 'radical rethinking.' ”
CLASH and US EPA will sponsor SoilSHOP events at four Cleveland locations in July and August.
Special thanks to our local site sponsors FoodStrong/Coit Road Farmers Market, Kentucky Garden, God's Vision Foundation and Concerned Citizens Community Council. More info at https://www.clashcle.org/home/learn-more-about-clash/soilshop-events-in-cleveland You can help share this information to your friends, neighbors, members and clients.
Around Cleveland
JUNE 26, 2024. TheLand. Op-ed: Cleveland administrators, partners grapple with lead-contaminated soil. "Across the city, toxic metal left behind in vacant lots continues to be a health hazard while program alignment and coordination hinder mitigation efforts. About a quarter of kindergartners enrolling in Cleveland Metropolitan School District have had elevated levels of lead in their blood at some point before their sixth birthday, according to research by Case Western Reserve University. Young kids are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning. Playtime in the backyard can turn harmful when a kid plays with toys coated in lead-contaminated soil, or when a curious baby nibbles on peeling paint chips on their front porch. There are dozens of ways a child can come into contact with and ingest lead, and even a small amount of lead can damage a child’s cognitive abilities."
Jun 28, 2024. WEWS. Exposure to toxic lead levels damages children's mental, physical health. "Cleveland continues to struggle to reach its goal to be lead safe by 2028. The city has received only about 350 new lead safe certification applications each quarter for the past few quarters, according to Rob Fischer, Lead Safe Auditor, City of Cleveland. 'At one point, we had nearly 1,000 applications a quarter during 2022 and we knew we needed to go higher,' he said. 'We needed to be something closer to 2500.' " Kudos to resident-activist, community gardener Shirley Bell who is quoted in this story.
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Around Ohio
Massillon Independent via Canton Repository. 1 million-gallon water tower in Massillon getting a facelift. "Aqua Ohio is putting about $600,000 of work into its water tower on Massillon's southwest side. An Aqua Ohio water tower used to help supply drinking water to west side residents is in the midst of six-figure facelift. A $600,000 effort is ongoing to upgrade the tower, which sits on property in the 1200 block of Kenyon Ave. SW, aiming to upgrade the inside and outside of the structure. It holds 1 million gallons of water. Work involves water draining, sandblasting, minor repairs and repainting sections of the tower, according to the company. The upgrades should take a few weeks." Questions: has anyone checked to see if the contractors will be releasing lead into the water or the surrounding community? Does anyone remember last week's story about the water tower in North Carolina?