Three Federal Agencies Visit Philadelphia Children's Hospital to Promote Lead Poisoning Prevention
In Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, regional administrators from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly visited St. Christopher's Hospital for Children on November 2 to highlight protecting children from lead exposure.
According to the EPA news release issued November 2, the officials stressed that public education, housing remediation, clinical screening and safe drinking water are parts of a coordinated federal effort to help families identify and reduce lead risks in their homes and surroundings. Under the message "Get the Facts and Get Your Home Tested," the agencies pointed to lead in paint, dust, soil and drinking water as the main sources of risk and said parents and caregivers can take practical steps against them.
EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey said every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment free from the preventable harms of lead exposure, and that the EPA's work includes replacing lead service lines and supporting clean, safe drinking water. HHS Regional Director Tatiana Villa said childhood lead poisoning is a public health issue that can and must be prevented.
The release also listed local resources, including the City of Philadelphia's Lead and Healthy Homes Program and the Philadelphia Regional Center for Children's Environmental Health, where families can find testing and remediation guidance.
(Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：费城市政厅塔楼。Foolish Productions Photography 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Philadelphia City Hall tower. By Foolish Productions Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
