Pa. proposals aim to minimize lead exposure
In this Friday
State lawmakers are rolling out a trio of proposals they say could help Pennsylvania minimize lead poisoning and exposure among children.
The plans were prompted by the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, where the governor declared a state of emergency in January. While lead popped up in contaminated water in Michigan, for Pennsylvania, the more prevalent source of lead is in chipping paint in old houses.
“This is a huge issue, and it’s a huge issue for all of our older communities,” said Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh. He’s proposing a plan to require landlords to test residential rental units for lead every time the property changes tenants, and share the test information with prospective renters.
Other proposals would increase the frequency of water testing for lead and require all children younger than 6 to be checked for lead exposure. A 2014 state report found that, out of about 140,000 children under the age of 7 tested in Pennsylvania, about 13,000 were found to have dangerous amounts of lead in their blood.
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