Media Release

CONTACT: Robert J. Marshall, Ph.D. 222-1017
FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: May 17, 2001

Department of Health Responds to Childhood Lead Group

Providence, RI –HEALTH officials met yesterday morning with representatives of the Childhood Lead Action Project ("Project") to discuss childhood lead poisoning prevention. Public interest recently peaked when the Providence Journal launched a 6-part series calling attention to conditions responsible for poisoning 10 percent of children in Rhode Island (20% in some cities) with environmental lead. Project members requested an impromptu meeting following a brief demonstration outside the Department of Health building on Capitol Hill.

"We really appreciate it when groups like the Project bring their concerns to our attention," said Dr. Patricia A. Nolan, Director of the RI Department of Health. "HEALTH and the Project share the same goal-- to end childhood lead poisoning. We already addressed many of the concerns they raised today. But the customer service issues surprised us. I am working with staff to get those fixed."

Project representatives raised four key concerns:

• Information on lead unsafe properties: HEALTH provided a complete list of "closed cases" to the Providence Journal—now available at http://projo.com/extra/lead/.

• Notifying other tenants: The Project previously suggested that HEALTH provide outreach and education materials to all tenants in a property being inspected for lead violations. Environmental Lead Inspectors, working under contract with HEALTH, started doing this on May 1, 2001.

• Information "tools" for families: HEALTH’s environmental lead poisoning prevention projects routinely provides information to families and health care providers in RI.

• HEALTH officials visit all Pediatrics and Family Medicine providers in RI to track lead screening, provide technical assistance and provide public information materials.

• HEALTH works closely with the RI Attorney General and the Regional EPA to enforce all state and federal disclosure laws. Several investigations are underway with possible legal actions pending.

• HEALTH contacts the parents of every RI child with a blood lead level or 10-19 ug/dl and provides prevention and treatment information. If the level exceeds 20 ug/dl, children receive comprehensive intervention services, including treatment referral, case management, environmental inspection and follow-up services.

• HEALTH participates in school nurse-teacher training conferences, sends technical information to all schools and provides parent-to-parent informational services.

• HEALTH provides a full-service hotline for families to inquire about lead and other health issues at the Family Health Information Line 1-800-942-7434

• Lower the action level of blood lead to 15 ug/dl: The preparation work for this policy change has been completed. As of July 1, 2001, HEALTH will use a "persistent" level of 15 ug/dl (2 readings 90 days apart) to initiate a comprehensive environmental lead poisoning intervention for all children in Rhode Island.

HEALTH officials noted that confidentiality laws in Rhode Island limit the release of some information, such as the addresses of pending cases, just as they do in Connecticut and Massachusetts . "There are always things we could do better," said Director Nolan, "and feedback from groups such as the Project help us identify improvements. Childhood lead poisoning is a community-wide problem. It’s not something the Department of Health can do alone. It’s going to take all our efforts to stop it."