This legislation amends public health law to redefine the definition of “elevated lead levels” from 5 micrograms to 3.5 micrograms and will take effect immediately.
According to the World Health OrgElevated childhood blood lead levels lead to long-term consequences. This bill lowers New York’s definition of elevated blood lead level (ELL) from 5 micrograms per deciliter to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. According to the Department of Health, 4131 children had a blood level rate of over 5 micrograms per deciliter, and 1,175 exceeded 10 micrograms per deciliter.
Lowering the elevated blood level, will ensure children are receiving adequate treatment and prevention. When a child shows an elevated blood lead level, they receive follow-up testing, risk reduction information, and nutrition assessments from physicians. These children are referred to local health departments, who will then conduct an environmental investigation of the child’s home to identify the sources of lead exposure so they can be remediated.
Children can be exposed to lead through common pathways such as inhaling dust from old paint, or ingesting contaminated water or food grown in polluted soil. Lead exposures can lead to severe health and developmental impacts. Further studies have highlighted the impact of early childhood lead exposure on academic performance and intellectual development.
In an effort to remove and control the sources of lead, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its blood lead reference value (BLRV) or “elevated lead level” to reflect 3.5 micrograms (down from 5 micrograms) of lead per deciliter of blood as being harmful. This action was taken in line with growing scientific evidence that there is no safe blood lead level, especially for children. However, the CDC’s BLRV serves only as a recommendation for childhood lead intervention.
State and local governments are responsible for setting the enforceable standards that will trigger inventions to protect a child’s health by physicians and local health departments. This bill is pivotal to protect the health of every New Yorker, reduce the need for future medical intervention, and ensure every exposed child receives the required care and support.
