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Policy
Bill in Senate to Provide Lead-Level Testing of Child
Day-Care and Preschool Facilities Text
of PA SB 409
Act Now!
The Hazardous Lead-Level Testing Act
was introduced on March 10, 2003 and referred to the Public
Health and Welfare Committee. The Act calls for testing
to determine the levels of hazardous lead at child day-care
facilities. Centers supervised or licensed by the Department
of Public Welfare, licensed nursery schools, preschools
at private academic schools (non-religious), and preschools
accredited by the National Association for the Education
of Young Children would all be included in required testing.
Background Information:
- Young children are at the greatest
risk for ingesting lead because of their tendency to put
objects in their mouths. In fact, the CDC has identified
that approximately 434,000 children aged 1-5 have blood
lead levels higher than what is recommended.
- There are no obvious symptoms of lead
poisoning, yet the effects can include learning disabilities,
behavioral problems, seizures, and even death.
- Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated
dust are the two greatest contributors to lead exposure
among children in the United States.
- The
key to preventing lead poisoning and minimizing its effects
is letting the public know what areas pose the highest
risks for exposure. This information can help to identify
which children need to be tested and to keep other children
away from these areas in the future.
Use the following links
to e-mail members of the Public Health and Welfare Committee,
and encourage them to support the Hazardous Lead-Level Testing
Act.
To find your district and senator, click
here.
When writing to a Senator, please remember
to be brief, to include your name and address, and to never
threaten him/her.
Harold
Mowery, Jr.--Chair
(R-District 31)
Jane Orie--Vice
Chair (R-District 40)
Vincent J. Hughes--Minority
Chair (D- District 7)
Shirley
Kitchen (D-District 3)
Allyson Schwartz
(D-District 4)
Mary Jo White
(R-District 21)
Joseph Scarnati
(R-District 25)
Edwin Erickson
(R-District 26)
Michael L. Waugh (R-District
28)
Jay Costa, Jr.
(D-District 43)
For more information about childhood lead
poisoning, view this factsheet
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Updated 10/03/03
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