Indiana Lead-Safe & Healthy Homes Newsletter

April 2008 Edition

Version in pdf

Improving Kids’ Environment (IKE) and the Indiana Lead-Safe Task Force publish this newsletter every several months at no charge for anyone interested in issues and events involving lead poisoning prevention and healthy homes in Indiana.   Distribution is by email or fax. Contact Janet McCabe at mccabe@ikecoalition.org or 317-902-3610 if you want to edit the draft newsletter, have an article to contribute, or want to get on or off the distribution list.  All editions are available on IKE’s web page at http://www.ikecoalition.org/publications.htm. 

                                TOP STORY!!

                                Governor Daniels signs Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill

On March 21, 2008, Governor Mitch Daniels signed Senate Bill 143, Indiana’s first step towards a comprehensive

legislative approach to reduce childhood lead poisoning.  IKE wants to thank author Senator Beverly Gard

(R-Greenfield) and Senators Patricia Miller (R-Indianapolis), John Broden (D-South Bend) and Earline Rogers

(D-Gary) and Representatives Charlie Brown (D-Gary) and John Day (D-Indianapolis) for their support and work

to pass this important bill.  A fact sheet summarizing the key provisions of the bill is available at

www.ikecoalition.org/Lead/SB143_Fact_Sheet_3-25-08.pdf.   Or click here to read the bill itself.  There will

be a lot to do over the next year to implement the provisions of the bill and it will be a focus of the Lead Safe and

Healthy Homes Task Force.

IKE Highlights

IKE to maintain a list of contractors who have completed Lead Safe Work Practices training

Have you ever tried to find a home contractor who has been trained in Lead Safe Work Practices?  Well, it’s not

easy.  There is no centralized location where firms or individuals who have taken the training are listed.  At least

not in Indiana.  That will change once EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting rule is fully in effect in 2010, but IKE

intends to fill that gap for the time being, and will maintain a list on its website of contractors who have completed

Lead Safe Work Practices training and wish to be listed.   Please contact Janet McCabe at

mccabe@ikecoalition.org if you wish to be listed or let your local contractors know that this opportunity is available.

On the National Scene

USEPA Issues Renovation, Remodeling and Painting Rule

On March 31, 2008, USEPA issued its final Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, The rule requires contractors who

work in older homes and child-occupied facilities to take simple, low-cost precautions to avoid creating and

spreading leaded dust, and to clean up any dust that is generated. The rule also requires the firms or management

companies that are disturbing lead-paint to be certified and to have at least one employee who has completed a

one-day lead-safe work practices training. Firms are responsible for providing "on-the-job" training for all other

employees.  Power sanding, open flame burning, and sandblasting of painted surfaces are prohibited by the rule. 

From the perspective of healthy homes advocates, the rule is a great step forward, but is not without flaws.  For

example, it allows contractors to use something called the “white glove” test (basically running a cloth over areas to check for visible dust) rather than using the more reliable clearance test to determine that lead hazards have been satisfactorily cleaned up.  Implementing this rule will be a significant undertaking, but should lead to more protection for children and pregnant women living in older homes.  IKE will stay on top of developments related to this rule, so feel free to send us questions.  The rule is posted at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/lrrpfinal.pdf and USEPA’s press release is posted at www.epa.gov/lead/.  The rule will take effect in March 2010, and EPA will conduct an extensive education and outreach campaign to promote awareness of these new requirements.

USEPA Strengthens Ozone Air Quality Standard

On March 12, USEPA issued a revised ozone air quality health standard.  The standard was last revised in 1997.  The new standard is stricter:  75 parts per billion of ozone vs. the 1997 standard of 85 ppb, which will provide greater protection to children and adults with asthma and other illnesses.  However, the public health and medical community had recommended, based on health data, that the standard be even more protective:  in the range of 60 to 70 ppb.  Information about the new standard is available from EPA and the American Lung Association.  Most of Indiana’s metropolitan areas violate the new standard.  See a map of Indiana counties here.   Areas that do not meet the standard will be designated “nonattainment” by USEPA and Indiana will have to develop plans to reduce emissions that are contributing to ozone levels in those areas.

Study Correlates Asthma and Lower Test Scores

An article published in the Journal of School Health, March 2008, Vol. 78, No. 3 reports the results of a study undertaken to investigate the relationships between absenteeism, the presence of asthma, and asthma severity level with standardized test level performance in a predominantly African American urban school district in St. Louis.  The study found that it is the severity of asthma that appears to be correlated with poor performance on standardized tests.  The authors state that “Our results demonstrated that merely the condition of asthma is not an indicator of poor performance, but rather those students with persistent asthma symptoms are at a greater risk of scoring lower than their peers without asthma.”

Back Home in Indiana

Sidewalks in the City

On March 31, 2008, the Metropolitan Development Committee of the Indianapolis City-County Council unanimously adopted an amendment to require sidewalks in new and rebuilt developments.  The focus is on connecting neighborhoods with commercial areas and is great step forward for children’s health and quality of life in Indianapolis.  Studies show that people with access to sidewalks get more exercise.  Property values are also higher in those neighborhoods.  Reduction of short car trips—when engines emit the most pollution because they are not yet warmed up—will improve air quality.  Kudos to members of local coalition Health by Design, which organized strong advocacy for the ordinance, and Indianapolis’ business and property owners who worked constructively with City planning staff to craft a workable ordinance.  The amendment needs one more approval—from the full Council.  Please consider contacting your councilor to urge their support.  Find him or her through http://imaps.indygov.org/GovntProfile/.  For more information, contact info@healthbydesignonline.org.

Asthma Rates Steady in Indiana

The Indiana State Department of Health has issued the second Asthma Burden Report (March 2008) that provides updated information about asthma in Indiana.  The report, which uses data from 2004 and updates the report issued in 2004 (which was based on 1999 data), presents data on asthma prevalence, hospitalizations, deaths, and quality of life indicators for Hoosiers with asthma.  The Executive Summary gives the highlights of the findings, and the report provides a lot of good and detailed information.   Overall, asthma rates appear to be steady, though asthma deaths have decreased.  Approximately 140,000 (8.4%) children in Indiana currently have asthma.  It is still the most prevalent chronic disease for children in Indiana.  Find the report at www.in.gov/isdh/programs/asthma/pdfs/IndianaBurden.pdf. 

Coaches Clipboard Program Teaches About Asthma

The Asthma Alliance of Indianapolis has adapted a Coaches Clipboard program developed in Minnesota for athletic coaches in Indiana.  It includes a 30 minute video, available at http://www.winningwithasthma.org/#,  that explains the basics of asthma and what coaches need to know to help athletes with asthma, an actual clipboard with key warning signs and what to do in an emergency and other resources.  This program is important for school coaches, coaches of community athletic leagues, and even school marching band directors and is generic enough to be usable anywhere in Indiana.  Contact Robin Costley at the Alliance at RCostley@HHCorp.org or (317) 221-2473 for more information.

More Children Tested, More EBLL Found

The Indiana State Department of Health has compiled statistics on lead screening rates and numbers of children with elevated blood levels for the past three fiscal years and the first six months of FY2008.  The good news is that more children are being tested and the overall rate of children with elevated blood lead levels is going down.  The bad news is that only about 30% of poor children (10% of all children) are being tested, and that the more children we test, the more children are discovered with elevated blood lead levels.  One reason for the significant increase in the number of children tested during the first 6 months of FY2008 is heightened awareness due to all the toy recalls in the fall of 2007.

Lead Parent Support Group under Consideration

IKE and the Marion County Department of Health are partnering to create a support group for parents of lead poisoned children.  This new service will provide an educational and support network for families who are victims of lead poisoning, and will offer them important resources to understand and cope with the condition.  At this stage, IKE and the Marion County Department of Health are gauging the interest and need for this new program through focus groups and meetings with active parents of lead poisoned children.  If you or someone you know is interested in this program, please contact one of our organizations to learn more and help us to develop this new service to be as beneficial as possible.  Contact Lauren Stanisic at Stanisic@ikecoalition.org for more information or if you are interested. 

The Legislative Session Has Ended!

Although this was a short legislative session, there was still plenty of activity on environmental issues, though as happens every year, more legislation was introduced than ultimately passed.  There are too many issues to address here, but I have included a few that are most pertinent to children’s environmental health and/or IKE’s activities.    More complete information about 2008 environmental legislation is available from the Sierra Club Heartland Chapter at hoosier.sierraclub.org/legislation/index.html or from the Hoosier Environmental Council at www.hecweb.org/.

·         Environmental Crimes.  Senate Engrossed Act 43 amends the Environmental Crimes bill passed last year, which had significantly restricted the state’s ability to prosecute knowing and willful violations of environmental laws as crimes.  The amendments eliminate the key barriers of the 2007 law.  Most environmental violations are handled as civil matters by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, but some violations do rise to the level of a crime.  These are handled by local prosecutors’ offices.   www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2008/SE/SE0043.1.html

·         Lead Licensing Program.  The bill that would have transferred legal authority for the lead-based paint training and licensing program from IDEM to ISDH was not passed.  The agencies are currently operating under a Memorandum of Agreement and will continue to do so until the legal authority is formally transferred.

·         Expiration of Environmental Rules.   An amendment to the state’s environmental rulemaking statute  makes clear that IDEM must publish a notice of any rules that it intends to let expire (rules automatically expire after 7 years if they are not readopted by the agency).  This was an issue that IKE, Sierra Club, the Indiana State Bar Association Environmental Committee and others had raised, and it is good to see it resolved.  www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2008/SE/SE0043.1.html

·         Green Buildings.  A bill that would have required new public buildings to meet certain energy efficient standards instead directs the Environmental Quality Service Council to consider the issues raised by the bill and make recommendations prior to next year’s session.  www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2008/HE/HE1280.1.html

·         Phosporous in dishwashing detergent.  House Enrolled Act 1120 has added dishwashing detergent (except in commercial uses) to the list of detergents required to have minimal phosphorous.  This is good for water quality in Indiana.  www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2008/HE/HE1120.1.html.

·         Renewable Energy.  House Bill 1117, which would have required utilities to provide an increasing percentage of their electricity from renewable sources, did not pass again this year.

Indiana Pesticide Review Board Starts Rulemaking on “sensitive sites”

On March 19, 2008, the Indiana Pesticide Review Board published a notice that it would begin a rulemaking to   require training and certification of persons applying pesticides at sites considered to have the potential for public exposure (such as schools, childcares, hotels and motels, health care facilities, parks and campgrounds, etc.).  Although many of these places already use trained and licensed personnel, others use in-house staff, who may put both themselves and the building occupants at risk due to their lack of training.   A preliminary draft rule is available at www.ikecoalition.org/Pesticides_General/pesticides.htm   and the Board staff welcomes comments.  Contact Dave Scott at scottde@purdue.edu with questions or comments.  IKE commends the Board for addressing this issue!

Mark Your Calendars for….

Events

World Asthma Day.  A great annual event in Indianapolis for parents and children to learn about asthma and support the efforts of the Asthma Alliance of Indianapolis in the community.  It will be on Saturday, April 26 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Glendale Mall Library, 6101 N. Keystone Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46220.  The winners of the 2008 Asthma Poster Contest will be announced and there will be fun activities for kids.  For more information or if you are interested in being a vendor or sponsor of the event, contact the Asthma Alliance of Indianapolis, 3838 N. Rural St., Indianapolis, IN 46205 or Robin Costley at rcostley@hhcorp.org or 317-221-2473.  The grand prize winner will get a billboard of their poster near their school donated by Clear Channel Communications.

Earth Day Indiana Festival. Another event on April 26, the annual Earth Day Indiana Festival held on American Legion Mall in Indianapolis.  It’s a great event with 100 environmental and conservation exhibits,  live music from some of Indiana's best new bands, special activities for kids, good food, and lots of opportunity for the family to learn about the environment.  More information at http://earthdayindiana.org/. 

Meetings    

   Indiana Lead-Safe and Healthy Homes Task Force Meeting. All are welcome to attend these meetings to discuss lead poisoning and healthy homes issues across Indiana.  It is a great networking and planning opportunity.  The dates for 2008 are:

·         May 15

·         August 21

·         November 20

      Dates can change, however, so please contact Janet at mccabe@ikecoalition.org or at 317-902-3610 to confirm the date and location of the next meeting or to be put on the Task Force email notice list (we have been nomadic of late, so checking on the location is important).  We try to provide a phone line so people can participate by phone.

Indiana Lead Elimination Plan Advisory Committee.  The committee is charged with advising ISDH on the state’s implementation of the state lead elimination plan.  The meetings are held at HUD’s offices at 151 N. Delaware St., Suite 1200 and are open to the public.  Next meeting:

• Thursday, June 12, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Indiana Joint Asthma Coalition.  INJAC is a voluntary network of people and organizations who work to reduce the burden of asthma on people living in Indiana and assist ISDH with implementation of the State’s Asthma plan.  All are welcome to attend.  INJAC meets at the ISDH office in Indianapolis at 2 N. Meridian Street.  INJAC’s next meeting will be:

• Thursday, June 19, 1:30 – 4:00 PM

Training

o        Free EPA & HUD-Approved Lead Safe Work Practices Course.  Contact Masimax at 866-232-5419 or on-line at www.leadsafetraining.org/ for dates and locations.  A couple sessions to note:

§         April 24, Lead Safe Training in Cleveland, OH

§         May 13, Spanish Lead Safe Training in South Bend, IN

§         May 14, Lead Safe Training in South Bend, IN

§         May 15, Lead Safe Training in Gary, IN

o        Accredited Lead Training at the Environmental Management Institute in Indy.  Contact EMI at 800-488-8842 or www.envtlmgmt.org.

o        Lead Inspector / Risk Assessor Initial – June 16 - 20

o        Lead Abatement Worker Initial – October 15 - 16

o        Lead Supervisor/Contractor Initial – August 25 - 28

o        Lead Inspector / Risk Assessor Refresher – May 28 - 29

o        Lead Abatement Supervisor Refresher – May 31

o        Lead Abatement Worker Refresher – September 26

o        National Center for Healthy Housing Training.  The NCHH maintains a list of upcoming trainings across the country.  Find it at www.healthyhomestraining.org/upcoming.htm.

Conferences

o        Check the Alliance for Healthy Homes Calendar for upcoming conferences on Healthy Homes Issues:  www.afhh.org/res/res_calendar.htm.  

Thanks for improving kids' environment!  If you have any questions or comments about this newsletter, IKE, or the Indiana Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Task Force, contact Janet G. McCabe at mccabe@ikecoalition.org, 317-902-3610 or 1201 N. Central Ave, #9, Indianapolis, IN  46202.  If you need more information on national events, check out the Alliance Alert Newsletter at www.afhh.org and click on newsletter.  IKE publishes a newsletter on a regular basis that describes IKE’s efforts beyond healthy homes and lead hazard control.  Contact Janet G. McCabe at mccabe@ikecoalition.org if you want to subscribe to that newsletter.

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