EPA: Protect our Kids, Make Lead Removal & Safety a Priority!

Over two years ago, the people of Flint, Michigan suffered a terrible blow to their water quality. After public outcry and more tests were conducted, elevated levels of lead were found in multiple water sources in the city.

But Flint is not an exception. Just last month, a Reuters investigation found lead poisoning in nearly 3,000 areas in the United States. Some cities had far higher rates of contamination than Flint. The Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland, California showed terrifying rates of lead. Very few of these areas, which host a massive health risk for children especially, receive attention or funding.

Currently, the burden of lead testing lies (in most cases) on testing children’s blood. This means the main way we are dealing with lead poisoning is retroactively, once we have discovered there is a problem. By this time, public health is already affected, and cleanup is expensive and political. Children with lead exposure can suffer from convulsions, IQ loss, developmental disorders, and even comas. This is the opposite of the way the process should work: the burden of lead tests should not be put on children.

The EPA must prioritize lead poisoning in the new year. First, they could offer more grants/funding alternatives for people looking to renovate their buildings to remove lead. Also, they must create a means of proactive lead prevention and hold institutions, homeowners, property managers, and building owners accountable.

Tell the EPA: lead hurts our children. Make lead removal & safety a priority in 2017!