Childhood Lead Exposure: Senator Casey Hosts Expert Roundtable at CHOP

In light of the national spotlight on lead exposure in children due to the Flint, Michigan, water crisis, Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. held a roundtable on April 11 at CHOP’s Karabots Pediatric Care Center in West Philadelphia with experts on lead exposure in Pennsylvania’s children.

The roundtable discussion included CHOP Poison Control Center’s Kevin Osterhoudt, MD, and Fred Henretig, MD, CHOP PolicyLab’s Senior Psychologist Marsha Gerdes, PhD, and representatives from Temple Law School and Public Citizens for Children and Youth. The discussion allowed Senator Casey and his staff, along with members of the media, to learn more about the best ways to reduce exposure to lead in paint and soil — the two most common sources of contamination — and how government might support these efforts.

Solutions discussed included tax credits for families for removal of lead in homes, housing code enforcement, and requirements for landlords to remove the hazard, among other solutions. Experts stressed the importance of preventing the exposure to lead as the first priority, as completely reversing the effects of lead is not possible.

Related news

• CHOP experts recently provided testimony on lead exposure in children before Philadelphia City Council in a hearing before the Joint committees on Children and Youth and Public Health.
• CHOP also hosted the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee for a state hearing on the public health effects of lead exposure in Pennsylvania.

Photo caption: CHOP Poison Control Center Senior Toxicologist Dr. Fred Henretig; PolicyLab at CHOP Senior Psychologist Dr. Marsha Gerdes; Public Citizens for Children and Youth Health Policy Director Colleen McCauley; Temple Law School Associate Professor Nan Feyler, JD, MPH; U.S. Sen. Robert P. Casey, Jr.; University of Pennsylvania Center for Excellence of Environmental Toxicology Richard Pepino; and CHOP Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Douglas Hock.