Indiana Lead-Safe & Healthy Homes Newsletter

September 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

Registration Open for 2007 Indiana Lead Safe and Healthy

Homes Conference

Visit www.ikecoalition.org to register for the Lead Safe and Healthy Homes

Conference on October 29-30 in Indianapolis.  Some things to note:

--Thanks to generous support, scholarships are available again this year

--Key speakers include State Health Commissioner Judy Monroe, MD;  Daniel

Symonik of the Minnesota Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program,

Michael McGeehin of the CDC and more!

--This year’s program includes sessions on asthma, best practices for healthy

childcare, Ask the Doctor and more!

--Get active at this year’s conference:  visit the vendors, learn how to take a

dust wipe sample, fill out an on-line risk assessment, breath through a straw,

touch a pig’s lung….and more!

Check out the preliminary list of sessions here.

Got a  question you can’t find the answer to?  Call IKE at 317-902-3610.

Coming to a City Near You:  IKE Receives EPA Grant to Strengthen

Health Codes and Enforcement

IKE received a two-year grant from EPA to work 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. 

Some cities have adopted programs that specifically address lead hazards, which

greatly improves their ability to require poor housing to be fixed.   Contact Janet if you would like more information.

On the National Scene

Recalls Continue;  What’s a Parent To Do?

With a new recall almost daily, the issue of lead in toys has received more attention than ever before.   IKE has added a link to the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall site on its homepage (click here), so you can check the latest.  While the recalls are leading more parents to have their children screened and calls for control on lead in imported products, it’s important to remember that housing is still the primary source of lead poisoning for kids. 

Following is the list of recalls since the last Newsletter—more than 6 million toys:

·         Robbie Ducky™ Kids Watering Cans, JoAnn Stores, 6000

·         Spinning Tops and Tin Pails, Schylling Associates Inc, 70,000

·         SpongeBob SquarePants(tm) Character Address Books and Journals, Martin Designs Inc., 250,000

·         Magnetic Toy Train Sets, Hampton Direct, 27,000

·         Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys, RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill., 4.5 million

·         Soldier Bear Brand Toy Sets, 10,000 sets, AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange Service), of Dallas, Texas

·         Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and other children's toys, 967,000 toys, Fisher-Price Inc., of East Aurora, N.Y.

·         “Sarge” die cast toy cars, 253,000,  Mattel Inc., of El Segundo, Calif.

·         Sleeping Beauty Crown and Cinderella Star Earring Sets, 220 sets, Uncas Manufacturing Company, of Providence, RI

·         Essentials for Kids Jewelry Sets, 20,000, Future Industries, of Cliffwood Beach, N.J.

·         Butterfly Necklaces, 19,000, GeoCentral, of Napa, Calif.

Appparently, more recalls will be announced.  In response to petitions by IKE and the Sierra Club last year, the CPSC has begun a rulemaking on lead in toy jewelry.  The Sierra Club continues to push for action at the federal level and by the companies —recent events and documents are available at www.sierraclub.org/environmentallaw/lawsuits/0322.asp. 

Angie’s List Hits the Road with 20 City Lead Awareness Tour

Indianapolis-based Angie’s List, the national consumer organization that helps homeowners find painters, remodelers and many other types of service providers, will be taking a lead safety show on the road to twenty cities, including Indianapolis, in September and October.  Inspired by IKE’s Secret Shopper program, which tested the advice given to homeowners by hardware and paint stores, Angie’s List contacted nearly 200 remodelers, painters and other companies whose work disturbs paint.  In response to first general, then specific, questions about the risks of lead-based paint, nearly one-third of the companies gave dangerous advice.  Sound familiar? 

These results spurred the company to offer free Lead-Safe Work Practices training to contractors as well as advice to homeowners.  Angie’s List will be partnering with local health departments and other groups in each city to provide the training, blood lead testing for children and lead testing for toys and other products.  IKE applauds Angie’s List for this effort—the company has a unique relationship with both their member homeowners and the contractors who wish to stay highly rated.  They can really make a difference with this intensive outreach effort.  More information about the tour is available at http://leadsafety.angieslist.com/.

Study Shows that Weatherization Can Create Lead Hazards

There has long been a partnership between weatherization and lead hazard control programs in Indiana.  After all, replacing old windows is one of the best ways to reduce lead risk – if done safely.  A recent study by the National Center for Healthy Housing has shown that certain weatherization activities actually increase lead hazards.  Levels of leaded dust created by typical weatherization work in older housing with lead-based paint were well above EPA clearance levels, and can pose a substantial risk to children. Study findings affirm the need for areas to be cleaned after containment is removed.  More details on the study can be found at www.centerforhealthyhousing.org/html/doe_study.htm.

AlphaLead Provides Needed Network for Parents of Lead Poisoned Children

The American Lead Poisoning Help Association is comprised of parents and concerned citizens from all over the country, dedicated to the prevention of childhood lead poisoning.  ALPHA wants to help unite parents of lead poisoned children to network, share ideas and experiences, and promote lead awareness.   As with any traumatic life experience, being able to share with others who have had similar experiences can make all the difference in the world.  Visit ALPHA’s website at www.alphalead.org/.

Back Home in Indiana

Vintage Woodwork Does Not Pass the Lead-Safe Test

Health Department staff in St. Joseph County recently discovered that the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore facility in South Bend was selling doors, windows, and trim that they have taken out of old homes.  Very useful to those wanting to restore an older home, but when the doors were tested for lead, 4 out of 7 were contaminated.  Thanks to Becky Waechter and her staff for identifying and raising this issue; it has now been raised to Habitat for Humanity national headquarters.  We’ll keep you posted on their response.

Study of Radon in Rental Housing Shows 1 in 3 Homes Tested Have High Radon

Having a radon test and negotiating about mitigation if levels are high has become routine in housing sales, but little attention has been paid to radon in rental property.  In 2006, IKE partnered with the Alliance for Healthy Homes, the American Association of Radon Testers and Mitigators (AARST), and Indianapolis’ Organization for a New Eastside to measure radon in 50 low income rental units in Indianapolis.  A similar effort was undertaken in Minneapolis.  As part of the project, which is funded by a grant from USEPA, AARST agreed to install mitigation systems in up to 10 properties in each city.  Results of the testing in Indianapolis show that rental property has about the same chance of high radon as other property—no real surprise.   While radon is the second leading cause of cancer (after smoking) and the leading cause among non-smokers, it has not caught the public’s attention the way some other environmental issues have. 

Mark Your Calendars

   Lead-Safe Indiana 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.  Contact Janet at mccabe@ikecoalition.org or at 317-902-3610 for details.  Our new meeting location is at the Anthem Wellpoint building at 2425 N. Meridian, Suite C.  We plan to have a conference phone available—let Janet know if you would like to participate by phone.  We usually coordinate the meetings with Indiana EPAC’s Housing Subcommittee meetings.

• Thursday, September 27 – 9:30 to 12:00

• Thursday, November 29 – 9:30 to 12:00

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.

• Thursday, October 18 – 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.

• Thursday, September 27 – 1:30 PM

• Thursday, December 13 – 1:30 PM

§         Training

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

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 – October 1 - 5

o        Lead Abatement Worker Initial – October 10 - 11

o        Lead Inspector / Risk Assessor Refresher – December 4 - 5

o        Lead Abatement Supervisor Refresher – December 6

§         Conferences

o        Physical Activity and the Built Environment:  What Works?  
Conference sponsored by Health By Design on September 10 at the Radisson Hotel City Centre, 31 West Ohio St. in Indianapolis.  More information at www.allianceforhealth.org/news.html#healthDesign

o        Indiana Lead-Safe and Healthy Homes Conference in Indianapolis on October 29 and 30;  www.ikecoalition.org/Lead_Conf_2007/Conf_Preview_2007.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.

IKE SUPPORTER - REGISTRATION FORM

You can become a supporter of children’s environmental health by:

1.             Mailing or faxing IKE a copy of this completed registration form to1201 N. Central Ave., #9, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 or 866-234-8505;

2.             Sending IKE an e-mail with the information at mccabe@ikecoalition.org  ; or

3.             Visiting IKE’s website at www.ikecoalition.org and completing the form on-line.

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