National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and Protecting Families and Workers in Puerto Rico from Exposure Risks

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) takes place later this month and is recognized in Puerto Rico and across the rest of the United States. NLPPW is a joint initiative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
 
According to the agencies, approximately 3.6 million American households have children under 6 years of age who live in homes with lead exposure hazards. They also report that about 500,000 American children between ages of 1 and 5 years have blood lead levels greater than or equal to the blood lead reference value (BLRV), the level (5 µg/dL) at which the CDC recommends public health actions.
 
There are still so many children at risk of lead poisoning due to the fact that the toxic heavy metal can still be found inside and outside of countless homes. This includes the home’s water and the soil around the house in some cases, but the most common source of exposure is from lead-based paints, used in many homes built before 1978.
 
Both children and adults can get lead into their bodies by breathing in lead dust (especially during activities such as renovations, repairs or painting) or by swallowing lead dust that settles in food, food preparation surfaces, floors, window sills and other places, or eating paint chips or soil that contain it. Children can also be exposed to lead dust from an adult’s job or hobbies, and from some metal toys or toys painted with lead-based paints.
 
“The goal of NLPPW is to encourage organized, local community events, and to empower families and other stakeholders to take action to help prevent lead poisoning,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Preventing exposure is key to stopping lead poisoning. To protect children, families and workers from lead and other exposure hazards, Zimmetry’s environmental, industrial hygiene and building science professionals offer comprehensive lead testing and consulting services to identify and mitigate these risks throughout Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.”
 
Zimmetry has also sponsored an educational video about NLPPW that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/YfaJoRrOpI4
 
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their lead, indoor air quality (IAQ), environmental, occupational, and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.
 

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Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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