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Preventing Childhood Lead Exposure in PA

by Danielle Gross

May 28, 2021

Berks County leaders to discuss impacts of childhood lead exposure in region

Berks County law enforcement officials and other local leaders will gather virtually to release a new report from the anti-crime organization Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Pennsylvania documenting how lead exposure in childhood can lead to future learning disabilities, behavior issues, and problems with impulse control. These issues can lead to crime in adulthood, making lead exposure prevention a priority for law enforcement.

According to the new report: approximately 500,000 young children in the United States have elevated levels of lead in their blood. Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the country for old housing, which is likely to have lead-based paint. While progress is being made through federal Housing and Urban Development funding to evaluate homes in high-need areas, much more must be done to protect Pennsylvania’s children from the harmful effects of lead.

The expert panel will discuss the new report as well as the prevalence of lead poisoning in the City of Reading and surrounding Berks County and its potential lifelong effects on children of the region and their families.

 

WHO: John Adams, Berks County District Attorney

Dr. Karen Wang, MD, Berks County Community Health Center

Kathryn Behm, BSN, Supervisor, Program Manager, Nurse Family Partnership

Jamal Abodalo, Director, Community Development Services, City of Reading (invited)

Richard Tornielli, Chief of Police, City of Reading (invited)

Bruce Clash, State Director, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids

Berks County Commissioners (invited)

Area state legislators (invited)

 

WHAT: Virtual News Conference on the need for lead exposure testing & remediation

WHEN: June 1, 2021 at 10:30AM

WHERE: Please register at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FDO7HWzTSQKJ9pXdUK6T0g

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