Introduction
- What is the issue/problem?- For my advocacy project, I chose to do the issue of lead-based paint being used in homes. The problem is that many home-owners do not know that their houses might contain lead-based paints that were used in their homes because lead-based paints were not considered a health threat pre-1950's. This issue is part of a goal for HealthyPeople 2010 where Objective 8-22 states that their goal is to increase the proportion of persons living in pre-1950 housing that has been tested for the presence of lead-based paints.
- What current legislation has been proposed to address this?-The bill that I found doesn't exactly match this topic but it can help promote health through a healthy living environment. The bill HR 1005 expresses in their title; To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to improve public notification and community relations concerning actions for the removal of environmental hazards. This bill requires the head of the lead agency for a response action to many different responsibilities.
- Who is affected the most? I think the people that are the most affected would be children and low-income families living in pre-1950's homes. According to the Department of PLanning and Urban Development, 8.5% of children have elevated lead levels. The town Akron in Ohio has the highest risk of housing with lead concentrations. Of the people in this population, 73% of families do not meet the median-income and 72% of homes in this area were built before 1950. The people living in pre-1950's homes are affected the most because the older the home, the more likely lead paint was used on and in it due to the widely used lead-based paints at that time. To present a health threat, it must somehow enter the body. Even in well-maintained homes, friction and impact surfaces, such as door jams or sliding windows can create fine lead dust that can be inhaled or swallowed.Those negatively affected by this bill may be taxpayers or the government due to the increase in cost to support this change!
- Who loses, and what do they lose? Taxpayers and government lose money.
- Who gains, and what do they gain? Homeowners gain health as a result.
What are the consequences of the issue?
- For the individuals mostly affected? The positive consequences of this issue for the people mostly effected are healthier people and lower levels of lead concentrations in people, esepcially children (the ones who are most effected). Lead poisoning is a serious issue. WebMD states that lead poisioning leads to irreversable problems with growth and development with children and can also lead to behavior, hearing, and learning problems. If pregnant women are effected, their developing babies will have birth defects.
- For their families? Families will be healthier but taxpayers may not be happy.
- For society? Positive consequences for the society would include healthier people such as children and babies. Negative consequences would be again, the money issue and more houses going under construction for lead contaminants.
- If homes are tested and found positive for lead contaminants, the housing market would probably go down again. The real estate industry is already suffering compared to previous years, and if pre-1950's homes' value would go down or people would specifically not be looking at those houses. Overall, for the future, if pregnant women have developing babies and are effected by lead, in the future, many health problems could arise leading to more needs for health counseling or treatment.
- Social costs and issues of this issue are diverse. The benefits would be healthier people and people with lower toxins in their blood levels.
- The barriers are that some people are not informed about this problem and are uninformed about this issue. Some people do not know that this was even a problem and it is a common issue. It is estimated that at least 19 million homes have lead-based paint hazards, of which at least 4 million have young children under age the age of six living in them.
- To break through these barriers, I think if people are informed about the risks and educated on this topic, they would care more because it could directly relate to them! Since many home owners do not know how common it is in homes, if they found out how common it is, they might care a little more and would not be opposed by this topic.
- Since the late 1960's lead has been banned in all materials that could effect humans through the environment. Before that time, lead was a man-made chemical with little known health risks. Many houses in the pre-1950's era used paints that were lead based. When studies showed that lead was an extremely hazardous material, it was banned in many items such as paint and gasoline (hence the "unleaded" gas in gas stations) When lead was outlawed in gasoline, a study showed that between 1970-1987, each year the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found that one can estimate that the blood-lead levels of up to 2 million children were reduced every year to below toxic levels. Since then, lead was outlawed, but there are still homes that have not been tested.
- Who would support this issue? The people who would support this issue are environmentalists and families, especially families with children. Also, people who renovate houses and their companies would benefit from this because business would be in demand if houses were found with lead contaminants.
- Who would oppose this issue? The people who would oppose this issue would be taxpayers, government officials due to the costs and lack of information and education.
- How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy? I think policy makers should vote YES for bill HR 1005, "To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to improve public notification and community relations concerning actions for the removal of environmental hazards. This bill requires the head of the lead agency for a response action to many different responsibilities."
**I WOULD REALLY LIKE ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK ON SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS! I WASN'T SURE HOW TO THOROUGHLY ANSWER ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS! THANKS GROUP!! :)**
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi
Posts
5 comments:
Hey Kathy
I thought the beginning of your proposal was really good. I find this topic hard to find all these issue for since all the questions seem repetitive. I would suggest retyping them anyways and adding other views such as alternative types of paints as your resources.. i'm pretty sure there's better types of paint out there and building off of that.. Other than that I think you're on the right track, it's just a hard topic to collect information on.. Keep it up!
Kathy
The first thing I think of when I heard lead paint is our landlord making us sit through a 30 minute lecture about it, and then making us read this pamphlet on lead paint poisoning. I know it's important, but it's just funny. I actually think you did really great explaining the positives and negatives of this issue on all aspects. I think that these questions are kind of repetitive and just change a little so it's okay to repeat, and really the same people are getting affected so you're doing good! Great job Kathy!
Kathy- I think for the positive effect in societies, another one would be for those trying to sell houses. If they get this problem fixed if they do have it in their house it will probably be a perk they can add to people looking to buy their house. I think this is a good topic, especially for us college students. A lot of us live in older, a little run down, college houses, so this issue actually applies directly to us!! Good topic!!!:)
Hey Kathy, (twin)
I think you covered just about everything here except small animals=) I know that lead is harmful to humans but it can be even worse for house pets! My sister was living in an apartment with lead and her landlords told her that she wasn't able to have any small pets because the lead could kill them! From this I learned
A. never let my sister babysit my guinea pig, Izzie.
B. highly recommend my sister to move. (and she's moving out this month)
and C. lead is really dangerous
I was just thinking that if you add this part about pets, pet lovers might be more interested in supporting your bill!
Great job Kathy, have a great weekend!!!
Heeey Kathy.
First off, awesome job summarizing everything. Also, I'm sure most people in Duluth have no idea if they live in a place with lead paint or not, so this is a great bill to bring to our attention. Now is it just as simple as taking out the walls that have the paint, and redoing the walls? (Not that simple, I know) If that was the case, I'm sure a bunch of construction type companies would also benefit from something like this. Have a good one!
Post a Comment