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EPA Grant Awarded to City of Lancaster Grant to Increase Children’s Health Protection and Reduce Exposure to Lead

Release Date: 2/19/2003
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

Bonnie Smith, (215) 814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today presented a $130,000 grant to the City of Lancaster that will help fund lead poisoning awareness, education, and training.

The presentation took place at the Lancaster Daycare Center, located in the heart of Lancaster City. Children under the age of six will be the primary beneficiaries of this funding initiative.

“Lead poisoning affects people of all ages, but most severely affects young children under the age of six, whose primary source of exposure is deteriorated lead paint and lead dust in their homes. This grant will help raise awareness about the dangers of lead exposure,” said Donald S. Welsh, EPA mid-Atlantic regional administrator.

Donald Welsh, joined by Congressman Joseph R. Pitts, presented the $130,000 check to Lancaster Mayor Charlie Smithgall to help the City of Lancaster explore successful techniques for screening and treating children for lead poisoning. The grant will also support public education and community outreach programs, lead paint assessment and abatement activities, and launch a healthy homes initiative.

Some of the funding will also go for training landlords, contractors and workers who renovate housing about lead-safe work practices. If not conducted properly, certain types of renovations can release lead from paint and lead dust into the air.

Federal law requires that contractors provide lead information to residents before beginning remodeling or renovations that disturb painted surfaces such as scraping off paint or tearing out walls. These activities create large amounts of lead dust.

"Lead poisoning is dangerous but the risk of lead poisoning can be reduced,” Welsh said. “It can even be prevented. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proud to partner with the City of Lancaster to reduce this risk and to protect the health of all its residents, especially children.”

For more information on lead poisoning awareness and prevention, got to: www.epa.gov/lead or call 1-800-424-LEAD.