CITY OBSERVES NATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEKS WITH CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Harrisburg, PA – More homes and apartments with lead paint hazards have been treated this year under Harrisburg’s award-winning lead poisoning prevention program, Mayor Stephen R. Reed today reported for the kick-off of the city’s annual observances of Lead Paint Hazard Weeks at the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg. The City’s lead abatement efforts were funded this year by a $2.1 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Lead Hazard Control Grant and a $249,000 PA Department of Health grant.
Reed said the City of Harrisburg has been actively involved in lead hazard control in homes for the protection of residents and children and the education on the dangers of lead poisoning since 1995. He said the city’s lead hazard control program removes or abates lead hazards in residential properties, provides codes inspections for rental properties, and public education activities focused on lead paint poisoning prevention. The program is run in conjunction with the Pinnacle Health System’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, which assigns a fulltime registered nurse to assist the city’s lead abatement efforts.
The Mayor said over 350 homes have been renovated through the city’s efforts since the program was first initiated. Reed said the city’s program last year involved 47 units being cleared of lead, including 37 that were performed at rental properties, all at a cost of $475,649. An additional 52 properties in multiple city programs have received lead based paint and risk assessments and have been under clean-up work during 2008.
Reed said instances of child lead poisoning have dropped dramatically since the city program’s inception. "Our lead paint poisoning prevention activities are considered amongst the finest in the nation," said Reed. "But our real success is more accurately measured by the number of young lives and minds that we have been able to save from this hidden affliction. The dramatic drop in city-based lead poisoning cases that we have experienced is proof that this comprehensive abatement effort works, and it works well." Harrisburg’s program was selected for HUD’s top national ‘best practice’ award for innovative programming several years ago, and has since served as a model for programs across the country.
Focused upon the health of city children, the city’s program includes lead hazard risk assessments and testing of children by a public health nurse, who also works with families to educate family members and ensures that children will not develop lead poisoning during the rehabilitation process.
Reed said lead poisoning is the leading environmental health hazard for children less than six-years of age. Lead is most harmful to children under age six because the metal is easily absorbed into their growing bodies and interferes with the developing brain and other organs and systems. Pregnant women and women of childbearing age are also at increased risk. Last year, Pinnacle Health System’s CLPPP conducted blood lead level screenings including 1,029 children in the city and Harrisburg area and of those children tested, 108 children had blood lead levels greater than or equal to 10 ug/dL (micrograms/deciliter).
Lead was used in paint applied to the interiors and exteriors of homes, for painted furniture and in plumbing until 1978 when the danger of environmental lead contamination was recognized. It is estimated that approximately 68% of homes in the City have some lead contamination (16,690 out of 24,590 homes). Over the past 20 years, childhood lead poisoning has declined dramatically in Harrisburg and the United States due to limits on lead in gasoline, paint, food cans and other consumer product. Chief sources of lead poisoning are: lead-based paint dust and chips in older homes, soil contaminated by lead-based paint flaking from painted structures, drinking water contaminated by pipes or soldered joins, leaded crystal, lead soldered cans, lead glazed ceramic ware, hobbies and some forms of cosmetics popular in some cultures.
Partnering with the City of Harrisburg to sponsor this lead awareness educational event is Liberty Mutual Group. The Boston-based company is one of the largest multi-line insurers in the property and casualty industry and is the eighth-largest provider of personal lines of insurance in the U.S. Their contribution toward the City’s Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Program is an example of Liberty Mutual Group’s concern for the health and safety of Harrisburg’s citizens and their families.
For more information on the city’s lead poisoning prevention program or its lead abatement efforts, contact Kathy Possinger, Director of Housing for the Department of Building and Housing Development, at 255-6480.
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