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CDC Lowers Lead Poisoning Level

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accepted the recommendations of a Scientific Advisory Board to lower the level of concern for childhood lead poisoning on May 16, 2012. The new reference value, which is based on population blood lead levels, would focus action on those children with the highest blood lead levels (i.e. those above the 97.5th percentile).  Currently, that reference value would set the level of concern at 5.0 ug/dL.

Free Pest Management Training

The Healthy Homes Coalition is offering a one-day training on Integrated Pest Management in Multi-Family Housing Wednesday, June 27, 2012.  The training will be held in Community Room A at the Kent County DHS buiding, 121 Franklin Street SE, Grand Rapids.

Employment Opportunity

The Healthy Homes Coalition is taking applications for a full-time Outreach Worker position to begin early summer 2012.

Lead in Water in GR?

In September 2011, a Scientific Advisory Board convened by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviewed the evidence to determine if there would be any health benefits to the residents when a municipality replaces old, leaded water service lines to individual homes. What they discovered was counterintuitive. In brief, when only part of a lead service line is replaced, the evidence more often than not suggests that there may be a short term increase in the amount of lead in drinking water.

What does this mean for Grand Rapids?

Get the Lead Out! Funding Renewed

Get the Lead Out! partners were notified on March 23, 2012 that the City of Grand Rapids has been awarded nearly $2.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to re-start the wildly successful Get the Lead Out! Home Repair program.

GR Baby Sent to Hospital with Lead Poisoning

"A ten-month old baby is at the DeVos Children’s Hospital after a severe case of lead poisoning that was discovered last week in Grand Rapids, " according to FOX-17 reporter Carl Apple.  The Healthy Homes Coalition worked with Carl to get this story out, hoping to alert the community to the fact that lead poisoning is still a very real and present danger in Grand Rapids.

More news and events!

Healthy Homes Coalition

Toys and Other Sources of Lead

Reminder: For nine out of ten lead-poisoned children in Kent County, the primary source of lead poisoning is lead-based paint and residual lead dust in the home. As dramatic as the toy recalls are, the risk caused by lead-based paint and lead contaminated soil in and around older housing is far greater.

During the past year, many products made for children - toys, jewelry, clothing, lunch boxes and more - have been found to contain lead. Many of these products are imported and are finding their way from store shelves to children's homes. While the Consumer Product Safety Commission issues recalls for these products as soon as they are identified, it is estimated that fewer than 20% of recalled items are actually returned.

It's more than just toys. Recalled items also include jewelry, clothing, and children's items like lunch boxes and furniture.

Review Your Toys and Children's Products for Recalls using these resources:

  • Toy Safety Resources from the The American Academy of Pediatrics is an excellent page that provides various lists of recalled toys, frequently asked questions and answers, and other safety tips.

Some Sensible Thoughts About Screening and Testing Toys and Children's Products

The Healthy Homes Coalition promotes the use of the highest standards in testing children's toys and products. While parents may find toy screening by XRF or other methods helpful, the best standard for product testing is analysis in the lab. For more information on what is involved in testing toys and other children's products, see these excellent resources from the National Center for Healthy Housing.

Factsheet: Toys and Childhood Lead Exposure. What to do about all those toy recalls? While the Healthy Homes Coalition always recommends fixing lead-based paint hazards first, parents who want to learn more about checking their children's toys can use this handy fact sheet courtesy of the National Center for Healthy Housing (205 KB PDF).

Factsheet: Testing for Lead in Children's Toys. Lots of parents are asking about how to check their children's toys for lead. The answers are not easy. See this concise fact sheet courtesy of the National Center for Healthy Housing (220 KB PDF).

Other Non-Paint Sources of Lead

Environmental Sources

Ceramicware or Pottery
Lead crystal
Lead-soldered cans (imported)
Lead paint
Lead-painted homes
Renovating or remodeling older homes
Burning lead-painted wood
Use of water from lead pipes
Living near lead-related industries
Soil or dust near industries and roadways

Sources From Hobbies

Car or boat repair
Casting lead figures (toy soldiers, etc.)
Painting
Furniture refinishing
Jewelry and pottery making
Stained glass making
Lead soldering (e.g., electronics)
Making lead shot, fishing sinkers, bullets
Target shooting at firing ranges

Occupational Sources (Adults working in these industries can bring lead dust into your home).

Auto Repair
Radiator repair
Battery manufacturing or repair
Bridge reconstruction worker
Construction worker
Plumber, pipe fitter
Police officer
Migrant farm worker
Printing
Glass manufacturing
Brass, copper & aluminum processing
Chemical manufacturing
Plastics manufacturing
Rubber products manufacturing
Steel welding and cutting

Industrial machine operator

 Other Sources

Asian cosmetics - Kohl
Home remedies - Albayalde, Alkohl, Ayurvedoc, Azarcon (also called Alarcon, Coral, luiga, maria luisa and rueda), Ba Bow Sen, Bali Goli, Cebagin, Cordyceps, Ghasard, Greta, Hai ge fen, Kandu Kushta, Mai gen fen, Pay-loo-ah, Poying tan, X-yoo-Fa

Food additives - Lozeena 

A Caution About the Most Frequent Source of Lead Poisoning.

For nine out of ten lead-poisoned children in Kent County, the primary source of lead poisoning is lead-based paint and residual lead dust in the home. As dramatic as the toy recalls are, the risk caused by lead-based paint and lead contaminated soil in and around older housing is far greater.

For more information on reducing lead-based paint hazards in the home, contact the Healthy Homes Coalition at (616) 241-3300.

Support Healthy Homes Coalition

Making sure children grow up in homes that are healthy and safe is everyone’s job!  The Healthy Homes Coalition is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Learn more about specific ways you can help protect children. Connect with us today!