water Archives | Science News Watch https://sciencenewswatch.com/tag/water/ Latest Science News and Updates Thu, 30 Mar 2023 03:13:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://sciencenewswatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-s-icon-32x32.png water Archives | Science News Watch https://sciencenewswatch.com/tag/water/ 32 32 EPA encourages states to use money and remove lead in drinking water near elementary schools and daycare facilities https://sciencenewswatch.com/science-news-watch-reports/epa-encourages-states-to-use-money-and-remove-lead/ Thu, 30 Mar 2023 03:13:25 +0000 https://sciencenewswatch.com/?p=7099 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent letters to governors encouraging them to reduce and remove lead in drinking water in early care and education settings, like elementary schools and daycare facilities through the use of federal funding.“The science is clear: there is no safe […]

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent letters to governors encouraging them to reduce and remove lead in drinking water in early care and education settings, like elementary schools and daycare facilities through the use of federal funding.“The science is clear: there is no safe level of lead of exposure to lead — especially for our children,”said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “We are encouraging our state and local partners to join us in this critical effort and leverage the unprecedented levels of federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reduce childhood lead exposure.”The EPA says, “it is especially critical to make improvements to places where children spend significant time such as child care centers, family child care homes, preschools, and Head Start programs. Together, these historic federal investments have the potential to be transformative and to act as a catalyst to achieve lead-free water for all, especially for children who are most susceptible to the health impacts from lead exposure.”

Background provided by the EPA:

The EPA and HHS are working together to reduce children’s exposure to lead as signatories on a Memorandum of Understanding on Reducing Lead Levels in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities, and together co-chair the President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children, comprised of 17 federal agencies and White House offices. Together, these initiatives highlight the federal government’s dedication to taking action to reduce their risk of disease and impairment by lowering children’s exposure to lead using federal and state resources and initiatives.

Children are especially vulnerable to lead effects because their bodies are still developing. Infants and young children are at the highest risk for life-long health problems from lead exposure. Lead poisoning can have both physical and psychological repercussions. Exposure to even low amounts of lead in children can cause anemia, behavioral and learning issues, and other problems. Therefore, states must coordinate their efforts to address lead in early care and education settings, where most American children spend a significant amount of time.

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Photo courtesy of: Luis Quintero

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