United States Epa Tender

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler along with U.S. Housing and Urban Development HUD Secretary Ben Carson announced new tighter standards for lead in dust on floors and window sills to protect children from the harmful effects of lead exposure. At the St. Joseph Health Department today EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford participated in an event alongside St. Joseph Mayor Bill McMurray HUD Deputy Regional Administrator Bruce Ladd and St. Joseph Health Department Director Debra Bradley. EPA is delivering on our commitment in the Trump Administrations Federal Lead Action Plan to take important steps to reduce childhood lead exposure said Wheeler. Todays final rule is the first time in nearly two decades EPA is issuing a stronger more protective standard for lead dust in homes and child care facilities across the country.Todays final rule is an important step needed to reduce childhood lead exposure in schools and childcare facilities across our country said Gulliford. Recognizing that all Americans deserve an opportunity to live in safe and healthy environments EPA Region 7 is committed to continuing a collaborative approach with our city state and federal partners to address this threat and protect the health of our nations most vulnerable our children.EPAs updating its standards for lead dust on floors and windowsills in pre-1978 homes and child-occupied facilities is an important advance said Carson. We will use this new rule in updating the lead safety requirements for the pre-1978 housing we assist.HUD continues to work with EPA and other federal agencies to reduce childrens exposure to lead sources and help ensure the children and families we serve are safe said HUD Regional Administrator Jason Mohr.Since the 1970s the United States has made tremendous progress in lowering childrens blood-lead levels. In 2001 EPA set standards for lead in dust for floors and window sills in housing. However since that time the best available science has evolved to indicate human health effects at lower blood-lead levels than previously analyzed.To protect childrens health and continue making progress on this important issue EPA is lowering the dust-lead hazard standards from 40 micrograms of lead per square foot gft2 to 10 gft2 on floors and from 250 gft2 to 100 gft2 on window sills. The more protective dust-lead hazard standards will apply to inspections risk assessments and abatement activities in pre-1978 housing and certain schools child care facilities and hospitals across the country.Lead-contaminated dust from chipped or peeling lead-based paint is one of the most common causes of elevated blood-lead levels in children. Infants and children are especially vulnerable to lead paint exposure because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. They can be exposed from multiple sources and may experience irreversible and lifelong health effects. Lead dust can be generated when lead-based paint deteriorates or is disturbed.