A Research Strategy to Discover the Environmental Causes of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

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Lead Contamination in Soil

USA Today has published a follow-up article on their April 20, 2012, USA Today special investigative report about soil lead contamination in neighborhoods near 230 old lead-factory sites through-out the United States: http://usat.ly/IjyEtf . The original article can be found at http://usat.ly/HX5zr7

One of the sites listed in the report is the A. Bercovich/Sunset Smelting and Refining Company, previously located at 1639 18th St. near Campbell St. in West Oakland. The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) lists the site history as a paint company and smelting and refining operation from 1912 to 1962, and a metal salvage business from 1963 to 1988. USA Today’s test results found lead levels ranging from 19 parts per million (ppm) to 2268 ppm in the surrounding neighborhood. The EPA and State of California have set a standard of 400 ppm as a hazard in bare soil in children’s play areas. These levels are dangerous especially to young children.

The Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program offers the following guidance:
 Too many areas of Alameda County have dangerous levels of lead in the soil due to industrial emissions, prior use of leaded gasoline, and lead-based paint.
 Many yards have lead contaminated soil near or next to pre-1978 homes.
 Anyone can be lead poisoned but young children and pregnant women are the most at risk.
 Most lead poisoning from lead in soil occurs when young children have direct contact with contaminated bare soil, and ingest it by putting their hands or toys in their mouth.
 There is no safe level of lead in the body.
 It is important to reduce exposures from all sources of lead.
 Lead poisoning can be prevented.

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High amounts of lead, phthalates and the toxic chemical BPA were all found in the water of a new hose after sitting outside in the sun for just a few days, according to researchers at the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center, who just completed a large study of toxic chemicals in gardening products.

Nearly 200 hoses, gloves, kneeling pads and tools were tested for lead, cadmium, bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC); phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). Such chemicals have been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and early puberty in laboratory animals, among other serious health problems.

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Kathleen Marshall used to think the fenced backyard of her Philadelphia home was a safe place for her five children to play. Not anymore.

Marshall was horrified to learn that a long-forgotten factory once melted lead just across the street and that soil tests by USA TODAY indicate her yard is contaminated with hazardous levels of the toxic metal.

“You’re living here and you have no idea of what’s really in your ground, what’s in your backyard,” Marshall says now. “It’s just kind of scary to think that you’re sending your kids out to play in an area that’s hazardous.”

Hundreds of soil tests by USA TODAY in neighborhoods near former lead factories show numerous areas where the dirt is so contaminated that children should not be playing in it.

Yet they are.

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CEH Turf Testing Program

An overview of ways to ensure that anyone who plays on older artificial turf, whether they are toddlers, preschoolers, their parents, and high school/college athletes, are protected from lead exposure.  Produced by the non-profit Center for Environmental Health (CEH). www.ceh.org/turf

Release Date: 04/05/2012
Contact Information: Stacy Kika,
Kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) announced three enforcement actions for violations of
the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) and other lead rules. The
RRP rule requires the use of lead-safe work practices to ensure that common
renovation activities like sanding, cutting and demolition, which can create
hazardous lead dust, are conducted properly by trained and certified contractors
or individuals. EPA finalized the RRP rule in 2008 and the rule took effect on
April 22, 2010.

“Exposure to lead can cause serious health problems and
affects our most vulnerable population, our children,” said Cynthia Giles,
assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance. “By taking action to enforce lead rules we are protecting people’s
health and ensuring that businesses that follow the rules have a level playing
field.”

On March 21, 2012, Colin Wentworth, a rental property owner who
was responsible for building operation and maintenance, agreed to pay $10,000 to
resolve violations of the RRP rule. The complaint alleged that Mr. Wentworth’s
workers violated the rule by improperly using power equipment to remove paint
from the exterior surface of an 1850’s apartment building he owns in Rockland,
Maine. The complaint also alleged that the workers had not received any training
under the rule and that Mr. Wentworth had failed to apply for firm certification
with the EPA. Because the lead dust had not been properly contained, residents
were potentially exposed and the dust could have also contaminated the ground
surrounding the apartment building. Two of the four units in the building were
rented to recipients of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section
8 vouchers and there were at least four children under the age of 18, including
one under the age of six, living in the units. The Maine Department of
Environmental Protection and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) also responded to the alleged violations.

On March 20, 2012,
Valiant Home Remodelers, a New Jersey window and siding company, agreed to pay
$1,500 to resolve violations from failing to follow the RRP rule during a window
and siding replacement project at a home in Edison, N.J. Valiant Home Remodelers
failed to contain renovation dust, contain waste, and train workers on lead-safe
work practices.

On February 21, 2012, Johnson Sash and Door, a home
repair company located in Omaha, Neb., agreed to pay a $5,558 penalty for
failing to provide the owners or occupants of housing built prior to 1978 with
an EPA-approved lead hazard information pamphlet or to obtain a written
acknowledgement prior to commencement of renovation activities at five homes.
The complaint also alleged that Johnson failed to obtain initial certification
prior to performing renovations at these residences.

As required by the
law, a company or individual’s ability to pay a penalty is evaluated and
penalties are adjusted accordingly.

These recent actions are part of
EPA’s effort to ensure that contractors and individuals follow the RRP
requirements and other lead rules to protect people’s health from exposure to
lead. Lead exposure can cause a range of health effects, from behavioral
problems and learning disabilities to seizures and death, putting young children
at the greatest risk because their nervous systems are still developing.

More on the settlement: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/tsca/tscaenfstatreq.html

More about lead: http://www.epa.gov/lead

Columbia, MD (January 4, 2012) – In a decision described as “historic,” an expert advisory committee to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted today to recommend a significant change in the level at which children are considered to have too much lead in their blood. The change will increase the number of children requiring medical care and follow-up environmental services from less than 100,000 to 450,000.

Currently, CDC recommends action at a blood lead level of 10 micrograms per deciliter. 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). The revised value would be 5 micrograms per deciliter.

The ACCLLP statement also underscores the need to focus on prevention, since the damage caused by lead poisoning is irreversible. Older housing with lead-based paint, and the dust and soil it generates, are the key sources of exposure for children.

Perry Gottesfeld, executive director of Occupational Knowledge International and ACCLPP work group co-chair said, “Policy makers must now focus on establishing a credible response to children that are exposed to lead at these much lower levels that we know impact learning and behavior.”

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Safety 1st Cabinet Locks Recalled Due to Lock Failure; Children Can Gain Unintended Access to Dangerous Items

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of product: Push ‘N Snap Cabinet Locks

Units: About 900,000

Importer: Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) Inc., of Columbus, Ind.

Hazard: Young children can disengage the cabinet locks, allowing
access to cabinet contents and posing the risk of injury, due to dangerous or
unsafe items.

Incidents/Injuries: DJG has received 200 reports of locks that did not
adequately secure the cabinet, including reports of damaged locks. Of the
reported incidents, the firm is aware of 140 children between the ages of 9
months and 5 years who were able to disengage the locks and gain access to the
cabinet’s contents. In three of the reported incidents, the children who gained
access swallowed or handled dishwashing detergent, window cleaner or oven
cleaner, and were treated, observed and released from emergency treatment
centers.

Description: This recall involves Safety 1st Push ‘N Snap cabinet
locks with model numbers 48391 and 48442. The model numbers are printed on the
back of the product and on packaging. The locks are used to secure cabinets with
two straps that wrap around the knobs or handles on a cabinet door. When the
product is in the “lock” position, a green triangle is shown through a window on
the device. The Safety 1st logo is embossed on the front of the lock. Locks
manufactured between January 2004 and November 2010 are included in the recall.
The date of manufacture is embossed on the back. The arrow on the date wheel
points to the month and the numbers of either side of arrow represent the year
of manufacture.

Sold at: Bed Bath & Beyond, and other retail stores nationwide and
online at Amazon.com from January 2004 through February 2012 for between $2 and
$4.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the recalled locks from
cabinets and contact DJG for a free replacement Push ‘N Snap lock with model
numbers HS158 or HS159. When removing the recalled locks, consumers are urged to
immediately store dangerous items out of reach of children.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact DJG toll-free at
(866) 762-3212 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the
firm’s website at www.djgusa.com

It’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and California Poison Control System (CPCS) is offering specific tips to keep your family healthy and lead-safe.

CPSC is sending out daily tips in English and Spanish through text messages on cell phones. Just text TIPS (PUNTOS for Spanish) to 69866.

Tip 1: Get the lead out – tidy up! Soil and dust spread lead. Wet-mop floors, wet wipe windowsills, vacuum, dust and wash surfaces often.

Tip 2: Well fed = less lead. Feed your child foods with calcium, iron and vitamin C to keep lead from hurting them.

Tip 3: Clean up that fun. Give the kids’ toys a bath. Toys collect dust and dirt that often contain lead. Rub-a-dub-dub today.

Tip 4: This old house? Paint used in houses built prior to 1978 is likely to contain lead. Keep your child away from cracked or peeling paint and repaint to cover it up.

Tip 5: Sweet tooth for Mexican candy? Avoid tamarind and chili flavors for kids and pregnant women. They may contain lead.

Tip 6: Don’t bring work home. If you work in painting, remodeling or auto repair, you might be working with lead. Keep work clothes out of living areas.

Tip 7: Home fix-up projects that expose old paint can create toxic dust. Take steps to prevent dust from entering living areas and don’t track in dust.

Tip 8: Easy on the bling. Some children’s jewelry may contain lead. Wash your child’s hand often and make sure to keep it out of kid’s mouths.

Tip 9: Help 4 lead poisoning and testing. Text “contact” and your zip code to 30644 to find the lead poisoning prevention program nearest you.

The tips were approved by the California State Lead Branch.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is forcing a rental agency to make its properties lead-safe.

The agency announced a settlement with J.D. Home Rentals, which manages 12 rental properties in the Fresno and Clovis areas where lead paint was present on windows. The company must pay a $7,500 fine and spend $67,500 to replace windows covered with lead paint.

EPA claimed that families were not properly informed of the lead paint hazard. Most of the renters were Latino and Hmong families with children under the age of six. EPA sued J.D. Home Rentals for violating the federal Toxic Substances Control Act.

Children exposed to lead are susceptible to developmental problems, including brain damage and behavioral problems

For more information, go to http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/epa-lead-paint-settlement-21667/.