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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 7, 2022 10:01 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative MaryLouise Isaacson |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Lead Levels in Playground Areas |
| The City of Philadelphia has a problem with lead in playgrounds. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in 2019 that the development boom in Philadelphia, often on sites once occupied by lead smelters, had churned up lead dust that contaminated more than 100 sites in the city. The lead in the soil can be ingested by children, causing developmental problems that can last a lifetime. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently lowered the acceptable limit of lead in children’s bloodstreams from 5 micrograms per deciliter (µ/dL) to 3.5 µ/dL. This lower level helps to prevent the problems from manifesting. However, the limit for lead in soil has not been lowered to reflect the lower levels recommended by the CDC. Currently, the limit for lead in playground areas is set in federal regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency. This limit is currently 400 parts per million (ppm) of lead in the soil. My legislation will lower the acceptable limit of lead in playground soil in the Commonwealth to 200 ppm. This reduction will assist in helping families to keep their children safe and healthy. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB605