National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and Resources to Protect Families and Workers in Puerto Rico from Exposure Hazards

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) takes place this week in Puerto Rico and across the nation. Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) join forces to bring together individuals, organizations, industry, and state and local governments to increase lead awareness and reduce childhood exposures to this toxic heavy metal.

These efforts continue to be a critical area of focus as HUD reports that about 3.6 million American households have children under 6 years of age who live in homes with lead exposure hazards. CDC states that protecting children from exposure to lead is important to lifelong good health as no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to negatively affect a child’s intelligence, ability to pay attention and academic achievement.

Unfortunately, lead can still be found in places inside and outside of homes and buildings in Puerto Rico and across the nation. In most cases, the main source of lead comes from the past use of lead-based paints, which were used before 1978. However, even water that travels through lead pipes or brass fixtures and leaches lead into drinking water is an all too common exposure risk. Some children can even be exposed to lead dust due to their parents’ jobs or hobbies.

“The good news is lead poisoning is entirely preventable,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Childhood lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease among young children according to the CDC. These are all reasons why the environmental and industrial hygiene professionals at Zimmetry support the efforts of NLPPW with comprehensive lead testing and consulting services all year long. These services, available in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean, protect families, workers, and help to keep companies and institutions in regulatory compliance.”

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.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail