From Clean Water Action (http://www.cleanwateraction.org/):
Legislation has yet again stalled in both chambers of the General Assembly to address a gap that according to reports has left 68% of Pennsylvania children under the age of 2 without getting tested for lead- despite exposure causing potential developmental disorders, including lowered IQs and violent behavior.
The lack of legislative leadership on this issue means it’s time for Governor Tom Wolf to step in. Email the governor TODAY at https://cleanwater.salsalabs.org/pa-lead-exposure-executive-action/index.html and urge him to take executive action through the Disease Prevention and Control Law to implement a universal childhood blood lead level testing policy.
While protecting our children’s health is at the forefront of this issue, there’s also an economic impact. The lifetime economic burden of childhood lead exposure in Pennsylvania has been calculated at $3.1 billion with $1.8 billion of that burden being placed on households and the private sector.
No wonder universal blood lead level testing has been endorsed by the State Senate Task Force on Lead Exposure and medical professionals like Dr. Kevin C. Osterhoud of The Poison Control Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who said, “Testing all children will more accurately define the scope of the childhood lead poisoning problem, alert policymakers and health officials to lead-laden communities, and protect future children from acute exposure.” It has also been championed by Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties, who in the absences of state action worked to pass their own testing policies.
We need Governor Wolf to act if leadership in the General Assembly is going to continually fail to call for votes on bills that would implement this policy – despite its clear support, need, and benefits. Tell the governor you support him taking executive action to better protect our children from lead.
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