Lead Contamination Finally Sees the Money for Solutions

On September 27, 2021, we published a story about widespread lead exposure in children across the country. Then, in October, the CDC reduced the read reference value from 5.0 ug / dL to 3.5 ug / dL, increasing the number of children eligible for intervention and follow-up testing. This report follows up on changes in federal policy aimed at remedying this “epidemic of silence.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Employment Act (IIJA), signed by President Biden in mid-November, has allocated $ 15 billion to map and exchange lead pipes across the United States. That’s one-third of Biden’s originally proposed $ 45 billion. To replace all lead pipes in the country.

“There will be a job to replace lead water pipes so that all Americans and all children can drink clean water, improve their health and get plumbers and plumbers to work.” Said Byden at a press conference. “How much are we talking about it? It’s a huge issue.”

IIJA is a “one-generation investment,” said Eric Olson, Senior Strategic Director for Health at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

“This includes the largest single investment in water infrastructure and the largest investment ever in the removal of lead pipes,” he said. The law is an important step, but removing all lead pipes in the United States is not enough, Olson said.

A single leadpipe replacement costs about $ 4,700, according to a 2019 report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the Center for Environmental Policy Innovation, based on the number of leadpipes in the United States and EPA’s cost estimates, current infrastructure legislation provides only enough funds to replace all leadpipes in 15 states. Hmm.

The Build Back Better Act, which is currently stuck in Congress, includes an additional $ 10 billion proposed to deal with lead in drinking water. With that additional funding, the Center for Environmental Policy Innovation estimates that the number of states that can replace all lead pipes will increase to 24.

The crisis in Flint, Michigan brought lead water pollution to national attention in 2016. However, according to the CDC, lead can be found not only in water, but in various aspects of the child’s environment. You can find toys, jewelery, imports and near the airport.

“Lead-based paints and dust formed when lead paints are eroded are the main cause of lead exposure, and lead poisoning in American children accounts for the overwhelming majority of lead poisoning cases in the country. “Medical doctor Philippe Landrigan said. Of Boston University. “Therefore, a national lead paint removal program is needed to complement the removal of lead water pipes,” he said, reflecting his editorial published with Dr. David Bellinger of Boston Children’s Hospital. I did. JAMA Pediatrics Earlier this year.

Even small amounts of lead exposure can affect a child’s development. According to the CDC, it can interfere with neurodevelopment and cause hearing and learning problems. According to a 2012 analysis by Bellinger, lead exposure in the United States resulted in a cumulative loss of nearly 23 million full-scale IQ points.

According to NRDC, there are 9.7 to 1280 million pipes in all 50 states, including those that claim to have no lead pipes. Twenty-three states that do not track lead pipes could not only make it difficult to estimate the number of lead pipes in the country, but also comply with the EPA’s 1991 lead and copper regulations that require water systems to test lead. It is low. According to a report from NRDC.

“”[The] The EPA needs to establish up-to-date lead and copper regulations requiring the removal of these lead pipes within 10 years. “