llinois is receiving nearly $241 million to identify and replace lead service lines, which connect water mains to people’s homes, the federal Environmental Protection Agency said last week. [Health News Illinois] The effort aims to prevent kids from being exposed to lead in drinking water. Lead can have serious health impacts, including irreversible harm to… Read more »
Posts Tagged: children
Durbin, Garcia propose update to national lead prevention measures
Two of Illinois’ federal lawmakers want to update national regulations related to lead poisoning. [Health News Illinois] The plan, proposed by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, D-Chicago, would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development to use risk assessments for low-income housing built before 1978 before a family moves into… Read more »
Durbin, Duckworth call on MCOs to address lead poisoning risk for children
Illinois’ two Democratic senators have called on Medicaid managed care organizations to do more to address lead poisoning risks to children in Chicago. [Health News Illinois] Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin urged the heads of the state’s five MCOs to take presumptive preventive action to protect children. That includes sending drinking water test kits,… Read more »
EPA seeking input on lead exposure from lead wheel weights
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking the public for information on the potential ways in which people might be exposed to lead through the use of wheel weights. Lead exposure can have devastating impacts to human health and can be especially harmful to developing children. [Green Car Congress] The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) requests information… Read more »
Lead in water a threat to two-thirds of young children in Chicago
Two out of three very young children in Chicago were exposed to at least trace amounts of lead in their home tap water, a study found, highlighting the need for City Hall to speed up replacements of brain-damaging lead pipes. [Chicago Sun-Times] A study by Johns Hopkins and Stanford researchers, published Monday in the medical… Read more »
FDA recalls 6 more cinnamon products due to elevated lead levels
The agency is urging U.S. cinnamon makers and distributors to conduct more product control testing in the wake of recent lead contamination outbreaks. Manufacturing Dive Joelle Anselmo Staff Reporter
Cook County Partners with Elevate to Provide Free Whole-Home Upgrades to Cook County Families
Healthy Homes for Healthy Families supports suburban Cook County families by providing free safety, energy efficiency, water conservation and whole-home upgrades Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined the County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES), Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) and nonprofit Elevate today to announce the launch of Healthy Homes for… Read more »
Lead pipes, child care centers, foot dragging a dangerous mix for Chicago’s children
Home day cares, mostly on Chicago’s South and West sides, are prioritized by the city for lead pipe replacements, but future funding is murky. The children at Ruby Williams’ home day care in Austin have been drinking bottled water for years. Williams wasn’t sure if there were any issues with the tap water in her… Read more »
How to speed up replacement of toxic lead pipes
With Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration projecting it will take 40 years and up to $12 billion to replace toxic lead water pipes throughout the city, aldermen are pressing for changes to speed up the work while driving down costs. On Tuesday a pair City Council committees heard from water officials in Cincinnati and Newark, New Jersey, two… Read more »
Chicago receives $336M federal loan to replace portion of lead water lines
Loan will cover replacement of just 7 percent of Chicago’s more than 400,000 lead pipes Chicago will receive a $336 million loan to replace up to 30,000 lead pipes across the city, according to an announcement made on Friday by city, state and local leaders. Chicago contains the most lead service lines in the country,… Read more »