Indiana Lead-Safe & Healthy Homes Newsletter

December 2007 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. 

IKE Highlights

Kmart Issues National Recall of Costume Jewelry Marketed as “Lead Free”

Just before Thanksgiving and the biggest shopping season of the year, the Marion County Health

Department and IKE discovered that Kmart was selling lead-tainted costume jewelry marked as

“Lead Free.”  Although Kmart was initially slow to react, once the New York Times took an interest,

the company responded by issuing a national recall of these misleading items and media, and

manufacturers worldwide,  picked up  the story.  More information, including photos and press

coverage at www.ikecoalition.org/Lead/Recall_Lead_Free_Jewelry.htm.

IKE publishes Supplement to 2006 Lead Law Manual

If you have a copy of Lead-Based Paint:  the Law in Indiana, the helpful book in the yellow cover

published by IKE in 2006 that summarizes the federal, state and local laws and rules that apply

to lead paint in Indiana, you’ll want to get the 2007 Supplement.  It contains the 2007 ISDH Lead

Case Management rules and other helpful recent information.  Download at www.ikecoalition.org/documents/Lead_Based_Paint_2007_Supplement.pdf.  If you’d like a paper copy,

contact Janet at mccabe@ikecoalition.org.

2007 Indiana Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Conference Recap

Two days of informative sessions on lead, asthma and healthy homes topics, attended by 200

people from across Indiana.  Many thanks to all the speakers, organizers and volunteers who

helped make the conference a success and all who filled out evaluations giving us feedback. If

you missed the conference, or would like electronic copies of the presentations, you can find them

at www.ikecoalition.org/Lead_Conf_2007/2007_summary.htm along with photos and award

winners.  Mark your calendars for November 5-6, 2008 for next year’s Conference. which will

again be held at the Marten House in Indianapolis.

Janet McCabe Appointed to USEPA’s Children’s Health Protection Advisory

Committee

This Committee is charged with providing advice to USEPA on issues that concern children’s environmental health.  It has weighed in on issues such as mercury, chemical toxicity, school environmental threats and many others.  Janet’s participation means a voice for IKE at the national level and increased opportunities to collaborate with the other committee members and EPA’s Office of Children’s Health.  More information about the Committee is available at yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/whatwe_advisory.htm.

IKE Works With Local Governments to Strengthen Health Codes and Enforcement

Thanks to a generous EPA grant, IKE is working with local health and housing departments to beef up their codes and enforcement so that they can take action when lead hazards and other unhealthy conditions endanger tenants’ health.  Contact Janet if you would like more information or would like help for your community.

IKE Annual Appeal for Support

IKE is asking for your support!  Our day to day work, such as this newsletter, can only be supported with unrestricted (non-grant) funds.  Please consider making a tax deductible contribution, either through the Justgive icon at www.ikecoalition.org  or mailing your contribution to 1201 N. Central Ave, #9, Indianapolis, IN 46202.  Thanks to a generous contribution, polo shirts with the IKE logo are available (while supplies last) for contributions of $100 or more.  Please let us know your size and whether you prefer purple or beige.  They are comfortable and universally slimming!

On the National Scene

USEPA Moves Ahead with Review of Air Standard for Lead and RRP rule

EPA has released its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for lead (http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pb/fs20071204.html).  Comments are due on January 16.  It appears that USEPA is no longer considering elimination of the lead standard as an option, although the Notice does ask for comment on this issue, which is a concern.  The USEPA Staff Paper has recommended a new standard somewhere in the range of 0.02 µg/m³ to 0.2 µg/m³ (the current standard is 1.5 µg/m³).  Please consider filing a comment to support setting the standard at the low end of the range.  Also, USEPA expects to issue its final Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule during the first quarter of 2008.

Too many to list—the Recalls Continue

I have been listing in each newsletter the products recalled for lead hazards by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, but there are now too many.  Since the last newsletter, the CPSC has issued recalls for 29 non-toy products (including jewelry, fake Halloween teeth, paint brushes, puppet theaters, and slipcovers) and 26 toys (including Mattel, Fisher-Price and Thomas and Friends products).   Find the non-toy recalls at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/child.html and the toy recalls at www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html.  You can still link to the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall site from the IKE homepage (click here), so you can check the latest. 

IKE checked with the CPSC for its schedule on the rulemaking on lead in toy jewelry it committed to in response to action by IKE and the Sierra Club and learned that the agency hopes to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in late January 2008.

Federal Agencies Issue “Import Safety Action Plan”

In November, the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety, which includes the FDA, Consumer Product Safety Commission, EPA, Department of State and a variety of other federal agencies, issued a document that lays out 14 broad recommendations and 50 specific action steps for improving the safety of products imported into the United States.  The report states that US consumers purchase $3 trillion worth of products from 800,000 importers through 300 ports of entry.  The report is available at www.importsafety.gov/.  The theme is to base actions on risk, i.e. focus on products that pose the most risk to consumers.  A few of the key action steps are to:

·        Strengthen enforcement by providing stronger penalties for violations of US food and product safety laws

·        Increasing the number of products for which mandatory product certification is required

·        Emphasizing imported product safety in international dialogues

·        Providing training on US safety requirements to foreign governments

·        Pursuing additional or stronger agreements with foreign countries

Angie’s List Maintains LeadSafety Page for Homeowners; Will Designate Contractors as “Lead Safe”

Indianapolis-based Angie’s List has now completed its 15 city lead awareness tour, and will continue to assist homeowners by maintaining a webpage devoted to lead safety issues (http://leadsafety.angieslist.com/) and by designating contractors who have taken Lead Safe Work Practices training with a special icon.  Because LSWP training is not required (yet anyway), there is no database or list for homeowners to check if they want to find a contractor who has been trained.  The October 2007 magazine ran a great cover story on the issue of Lead Poisoning (available at www.angieslist.com/AngiesList/MyAngie/MagazineArchive.aspx), and through its national tour, the company has trained 107 contractors in Lead Safe Work Practices.  Many thanks to Angie’s List for taking this issue on and committing to stay involved.  It’s making a real difference.

Centers for Disease Control Publishes Article on Blood Lead Levels below 10 ug/dL

On November 2, the CDC published "Interpreting and Managing Blood Lead Levels < 10 ug/dL in Children and Reducing Childhood Exposures to Lead,"  MMWR Recommendations and Reports 56(RR08):1-14:16, which can be found at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5608a1.htm.  The Report summarizes the findings of a review of clinical interpretation and management of BLLs <10 ug/dL conducted by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention.  This report provides information to help clinicians understand BLLs < 10 ug/dL. indentifies gaps in knowledge concerning lead levels in this range, and outlines strategies to reduce childhood exposures to lead.  It also summarizes scientific data relevant to counseling, blood lead screening, and lead exposure risk.

Rochester Lead Law Means Safer Housing

The Center for Governmental Research has completed an evaluation of the first year of implementation of the Lead Law in Rochester, New York.  Some of the key findings of the report are:

• 16,449 units were inspected for lead hazards

• 430 units that passed the visual inspection failed the required dust wipe test

• 1388 homes already have been or will be made lead safe

• 58% of property owners said they made repairs themselves; 72% said the person doing the repair work had received lead safe work practices training (required under the ordinance)

• The most common repair was replacing windows

Read the report at www.cgr.org/research_health.aspx#lead.

Back Home in Indiana

The Legislative Session Has Begun!

Bills that affect children’s health and the environment are beginning to be filed.  You can keep up with bills (www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo) and committee hearings (www.in.gov/legislative/session/calendars.html) through the General Assembly website, and IKE will maintain information on bills we are following on its website.  Several bills already filed concern Confined Animal Feeding Operations and the sunset of environmental rules.  In addition, earlier this year, Senator Beverly Gard, who has been responsible for much legislation in Indiana protective of children’s health,  presented a comprehensive lead poisoning prevention bill to the Health Finance Committee, which voted 13-0 to present it to the General Assembly.  The bill (Senate Bill 143) is available at http://www.in.gov/legislative/interim/committee/prelim/HFCO04.pdf. 

It addresses:

·         Lead in consumer products

·         Annual risk assessments for childcare facilities and proof of lead screening prior to enrollment in childcare

·         Accurate and timely reporting by laboratories of blood lead tests

·         Remediation of lead hazards in homes where children have been poisoned

·         Systematic inspection of older housing to identify lead hazards so tenants and prospective buyers can be informed

The provisions of this bill would significantly improve Indiana’s ability to reduce childhood lead poisoning and are necessary if Indiana is to achieve the goal in its Lead Elimination Plan to eliminate childhood lead poisoning by 2010.  IKE urges all interested parties to participate in the public discussions of this bill, and will post (to the extent possible given how quickly things move during a short session of the Indiana General Assembly) committee hearings and any other key information on the IKE website.

Computer-based Lead Risk Assessment Tool Now Available

The Indiana Lead Environmental Assessment Database (I-LEAD) is now available to all Indiana licensed Risk Assessors and Lead Inspectors with access to the internet.  It has several features.

• The I-LEAD Data Collection Form can be used during the assessment to systematically assemble hazard information, by component and location, to enter into the database through the ISDH operated I-LEAD website.

• The database produces the Lab Sample Submission forms to send for lab results from dust wipes, paint chips or other samples. Once the assessor receives the lab report, he or she inputs the results into the database.

• The assessor checks off standard recommendations for each hazard by component, adding other notes as needed. File attachments such as photos or diagrams can also be saved with the assessment.

• Once all of the information is assembled, I-Lead produces the Standard Risk Assessment Report (or Lead Inspection) to be sent to the owner and tenant.  The report includes all of the hazards, recommendations and attachments, along with such standard information as lead safe work practices. So far, 27 Risk Assessors have registered for I-LEAD.

To sign up, please contact Jeff Turner at jturner@isdh.IN.gov.

ISDH Now in Charge of Indiana’s Lead Paint Licensing Program

Effective October 1, 2007, ISDH is administering the Lead-based Paint Program.  Besides accreditation and licensing, the LBP program is responsible for the approval and monitoring of all abatement projects in the state.  Anyone planning a project designed to abate lead hazards must notify the Indiana State Department of Health prior to commencement of the abatement activities.  ISDH is also requesting that anyone who knows of a project that is possibly lead hazard abatement to contact them so the agency may ensure proper notification and enforcement is conducted.  Contact Tom Reel at treel@isdh.IN.gov with questions or comments.

Indiana Medicaid Reimbursement for Lead Poisoning Prevention Concerns Lead Advisory Committee

At the most recent Lead Elimination Advisory Committee meeting, we learned that the Centers for Disease Control have cited Indiana for its failure to provide for Medicaid reimbursement for certain lead poisoning prevention activities, specifically Environmental Investigations and Case Management activities.  This has affected the five local health departments who receive federal funds as subgrantees of the ISDH Lead Poisoning Prevention Grant and means that they will have to divert scarce funds from other priorities in order to conduct these activities or not be able to provide these services.  Several EPAC members expressed concern that ISDH and FSSA resolve this issue as quickly as possible, so that Indiana children get the services they need and so that Indiana will maintain its current excellent relationship with the CDC.

ISDH Issues Asthma Burden Report

ISDH is finalizing a second edition to The Burden of Asthma in Indiana 2004, which will be completed January 2008. Data in the report will include 2005 BRFSS, hospitalization, and emergency department data specific to asthma. Also, 2006 Medicaid data will be available. The data show that 12.7% of Hoosier adults and 13.7% of Hoosier children had ever been diagnosed with asthma (lifetime prevalence) and 8.2% of adults and 8.4% of children currently (as of the time of the survey) have asthma.  Overall, Indiana’s current and lifetime asthma prevalence rates are comparable to national prevalence rates. The data do show women, children, certain minorities, and those living in poverty are disproportionately affected by asthma. The entire report will be available online at the ISDH web site in January 2008.

IDEM’s Five Star Childcare Program Encouraging Providers to Apply

IDEM wants to recognize Indiana’s childcare centers and providers who go above and beyond what’s required to provide a safe and healthy environment for the more than 100,000 Hoosier children who spend time in daycare.  Its Voluntary 5-Star program evaluates applicants based on their efforts to reduce children’s’ exposure to mercury, asbestos, radon, pesticides, carbon monoxide, lead and PCBs. Applicants must also address issues such as the cleaning and maintenance of their facility, proper employee training, energy efficiency, indoor and outdoor air quality, vehicle idling, recycling and environmental education.  IDEM can assist centers with tools, resources and good ideas.  For more information go to www.idem.IN.gov/childcare or contact Karen Teliha (Community Environmental Health & Education Director) at (800) 988-7901 or kteliha@idem.IN.gov.

Indiana Pesticide Review Board to Consider Two Policies

At its December meeting, the Pesticide Review Board considered two issues of concern to children’s health.

·         First, the Board is developing a guidance document for municipalities doing mosquito spraying that will encourage them to provide notice to local residents and provide a variety of suggestions on how to do effective outreach.

·         Second, the Board considered beginning a rulemaking to require 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.  This issue is in the early stages of consideration.

IKE commends the Board for addressing both these issues!

Local Health Departments Play Key Role in Informing the Public

Indiana’s local health departments play a key role in providing the public with information about how to protect their children from lead hazards, and they take that responsibility seriously.  As one example, Loraine Chango of the Porter County Health Department recently contributed an article to the Post Tribune with cautionary tips to parents when buying toys for the kids that are safe, advising them to check the CPSC website for recalls and the product manufacturer as well if there was a question relating to lead content.  She mentioned that lead swabs should not be used to test toys.

Mark Your Calendars for….

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:

·         February 21

·         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, February 14 – 10:00 to 12:00

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:

• Wednesday, March 19 – 9 – 11:30 AM

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:

§         January 17, Lead Safe Training in Chicago

§         January 24, Lead Safe Training in South Bend, IN

§         January 25, Spanish Lead Safe Training in South Bend, 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 – February 4 - 8

o        Lead Abatement Worker Initial – March 17 – 18

o        Lead Supervisor/Contractor Initial – January 28 - 31

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

o        Lead Abatement Supervisor Refresher – May 31

o        Lead Abatement Worker Refresher – March 19

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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