Southern Regional Lead Poisoning Coalition

1. protecting South Jersey families from the dangers of lead poisoning Southern RegionalLead Poisoning Coalition Funded by:NJ Department of Health and Senior Services/Division of Family Health Lead agency:Southern NJ Perinatal Cooperative

2. The Coalition’s Charge Established in January 2003 to help local communities create and sustain local capacity to address and eliminate lead poisoning through culturally sensitive outreach and education.

3. The Coalition’s Goal Eliminate childhood lead poisoning by 2010 (Healthy NJ 2010)

4. Health Risk for Children Evensmallamounts of lead can lead to permanentdamage to the brain and nervous system In high exposures, lead can cause seizures, coma and even death.

5. What is Lead? • A highly toxic, heavy metal element • No living thing needs it • Found in many environments and products • Poses significant health and social risks

6. Lead Damage Lasts Lifetime • Behavioral and emotional problems • Hyperactivity, ADD, poor attention span • Discipline problems, school absenteeism, delinquency • Anger, aggression, depression • Brain Damage • Lower IQ, lower reading, vocabulary, and math scores • Speech and language difficulties

7. Lead Damage Lasts Lifetime • Delayed or slowed development • Decreased muscle and bone growth • Clumsiness / slow reflexes • Health Issues • Anemia, kidney damage, joint pains

8. Lead Effects in Pregnancy • Lead crosses the placenta • Lead stored in bones may be released into blood (and carried through blood to fetus) • Prematurity • Low Birth Weight • Miscarriage or Stillbirth

9. Lead poisoned children are 6 times more likely to have learning disabilities Jessica Wolpaw Reyes (2007) “Environmental Policy as Social Policy? The Impact of Childhood Lead Exposure on Crime,” The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy: Vol. 7: Iss. 1 (Contributions), Article 51.

10. Lead poisoned children are 7 times more likely to drop out of high school

11. Lead poisoned children are robbed of nearly $200,000 in lifetime earnings because of lost IQ

12. When lead poisoned children suffer WE ALL SUFFER

13. Social Impact of Lead Poisoning • Higher taxes • Cost of special education • Higher medical insurance • Welfare / social service program costs • Criminal justice system • Quality of life for society

14. Lead-Paint Dust: Greatest Risk • Lead paint dust is most common source of lead poisoning in children • Lead paint not banned in US until 1978. • Dust is produced as paint deteriorates or is damaged (renovation). • Lead paint dust is invisible

15. How Lead Gets Into Children • Ingestion • Hand to mouth activity • Paint dust, paint chips, contaminated soil, drinking water, food • Breathing • Renovations • Children may inhale fumes if paint is heated • During pregnancy

16. Symptoms of Lead Poisoning • Symptoms are rare and common to other childhood ailments: • Stomach aches or cramps • Headaches • Joint and muscle pain • Fatigue • Sleep disorders • Most lead-poisoned kids show NO symptoms until the damage is already done

17. Screening / Testing Crucial • Screening is only way to determine if child has been lead poisoned • All parents should know child’s Blood Lead Level (BLL) • Testing required at 1 and 2 years. Recommended whenever risk exposure occurs. • Testing residences for lead paint dust is important preventive measure to identify risk level and protect children • NJ provides free lead dust testing kits

18. Magnitude of the Problem • Lead based paint not banned until 1978. • There are nearly 1 million housing units in New Jersey built before 1950 – representing 30% of NJ’s housing stock. • EACH county in New Jersey has more than 9,000 housing units built before 1950. • Screening rates to identify children at risk average below 30%.

19. Screening RateNEW JERSEY Total # Children 222,837 41.6% 44% 46% 2004 2005 2006

20. Screening RateSOUTH JERSEY

21. Screening Rate GLOUCESTER COUNTY CITIES

22. Elevated BLL +10SOUTH JERSEY

23. Elevated BLL +10GLOUCESTER COUNTY CITIES

24. Number Children UnscreenedGLOUCESTER COUNTY CITIES

25. Community Solution for a Community Problem

26. Success Requires Everyone • Parents • Housing Industry • Real Estate • Builders/Contractors • Landlords /Tenants / Property Owners • Government • Public Health • Educational System • Judicial System

27. Coalition Priorities • Primary Prevention • Increase the number of housing units that are lead-free or lead-safe; • Decrease children’s exposures and access to non-paint lead sources; • Increase adoption of individual and family lead poisoning prevention behaviors • Secondary Prevention • Increase the percentage of 2 year old children in NJ that have had at least 1 blood-lead level (BLL) test

28. Coalition Governance • Full Coalition • Meets 3 times year • Coalition divided into 3 cluster groups: • Atlantic and Cape May counties • Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem counties • Camden and Burlington counties • Each cluster group to meet 3 times • Organizational Support from SNJPC

30. Call to Action • Commit to the Coalition • Recruit other members • Educate your community and neighbors • Spread the 3 point message • Test your home • Test your child • Use safe cleaning/renovation practices

31. The path is clear. TOGETHER, we can protect our children’s future