One of the greatest tricks about living in Northeast Ohio is preventing harmful lead poisoning exposure for children and adults living here - some neighborhoods of Cleveland still have around 30% of children showing harmful levels of lead in their blood, causing permanent physical and mental harm. So it is appropriate the United States Senate has declared the week before Halloween - October 24-30 - as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which "calls upon the people of the United States to observe National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week with appropriate programs and activities."

In the spirit of the millions of Americans harmed by lead poisoning over the years, now dead and haunting those who cause such environmental harm on Earth today... may 2010 be the year when Northeast Ohio leaders get serious about protecting our children and adults from the trick of lead poisoning, as that is the greatest treat they may ever give to this community and themselves.

Was this reported in Cleveland?

Subject: Senate Approves Resolution Designating Oct. 24-30 Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

Rhode Island's Senator Jack Reed introduced Senate Resolution 650, passed by unanimous consent yesterday, declaring that October 24-30 is National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Senators Boxer, Cardin, Collins, Dodd, Johanns, Menendez, and Whitehouse joined Senator Reed in sponsoring the resolution.  Many thanks to Senator Reed and the co-sponsors. 

The resolution states:

Whereas lead poisoning is one of the leading environmental health hazards facing children in the United States;

Whereas approximately 200,000 children in the United States under the age of 6 have harmful levels of lead in their blood;

Whereas lead poisoning may cause serious, long-term harm to children, including reduced intelligence and attention span, behavioral problems,learning disabilities, and impaired growth;

Whereas children from low-income families are significantly more likely to be poisoned by lead than are children from high-income families;

Whereas children may be poisoned by lead in water, soil, housing, or consumable products;

Whereas children most often are poisoned in their homes through exposure to lead particles when lead-based paint deteriorates or is disturbed during home renovation and repainting; and

Whereas lead poisoning crosses all barriers of race, income, and geography:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) designates the week of October 24 through October 30, 2010, as ``National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week''; and

(2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week with appropriate programs and activities.

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CDC's Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Toolkit has resources like posters, public service announcements, logos, etc. at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/nlppw.htm.  Using these free tools can help advocates and programs to spread the word that childhood lead poisoning can be eliminated.

Jane Malone
Director of Policy
National Center for Healthy Housing
202.580.7203

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