2023 -- H 6433

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LC003070

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 23, 2023, TO BE "LEAD POISONING PREVENTION DAY" IN

RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Morales, Ackerman, Dawson, Shekarchi, Blazejewski,
Chippendale, Giraldo, Kennedy, Tanzi, and Cortvriend

     Date Introduced: May 23, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, exposure

to childhood lead poisoning can do great damage to a child's health. Exposure to lead poisoning

can damage the brain and nervous system, lower IQ, slow growth and development, cause

hearing and speech problems, learning and behavior problems, and decreased attention span

leading to underperformance in school; and

     WHEREAS, Lead is a naturally occurring element found in the air, soil, water and often,

inside of homes. Exposure comes from many sources including fossil fuels and leaded gasoline,

paint used in homes, ceramics, pipes, solders, plumbing materials, batteries, ammunition, and

even cosmetics. Lead can also often be found in high levels at industrial sources and

contaminated sites; and

     WHEREAS, A recent medical research paper published by the National Academy of

Sciences stated that over 170 million Americans who were adults in 2015 had been exposed to

harmful levels of lead as children. The researchers estimate that half of the United States adult

population had lead levels higher than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention threshold

for harmful lead exposure. The researchers also found that in addition to negatively affecting

cognitive development, high levels of lead exposure also increased the risk for developing

hypertension and heart disease; and

     WHEREAS, The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that worldwide, nearly

one million people die every year due to lead poisoning. They also estimate that globally, one in

three children, approximately 800 million worldwide, have high blood levels of lead poisoning.

The WHO estimates that lead exposure leads to 21.7 million years lost to death and disability

around the world; and

     WHEREAS, Approximately 80 percent of Rhode Island houses were built before 1978,

when lead-based paints were finally banned from residential use. It is estimated that currently,

66,000 children in Rhode Island live in these houses. In 2020, 472 Rhode Island children under

the age of six were diagnosed with lead poisoning, tragically making Rhode Island home to the

second-highest number of children with severe lead poisoning in New England. According to

Joseph Braun, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Brown University, "a doubling of blood

levels is associated with a 72 percent increase in aggressive behaviors" and also "results in a 6.9

point decline in IQ. And it's estimated that each IQ point is worth a loss of $17,000 in lifetime

earnings"; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

proclaims May 23, 2023, to be "Lead Poisoning Prevention Day" in Rhode Island; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Terrance Gray, Director, Rhode Island

Department of Environmental Management.

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