Boy recognizes EPA’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week: Oct. 20-26

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW) is Oct. 20-26, 2024. NLPPW is a vital initiative aimed at raising awareness about childhood lead exposure and the dangers of lead poisoning. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will host a series of informative webinars throughout the week. Topics include understanding lead exposure, knowing your rights regarding lead-based paint, and protecting your family from lead exposure. Webinar information and registration links:

• Know Your Rights! Federal Lead-based Paint Regulations (English with simultaneous Spanish interpretation): If you lease or own a pre-1978 house, join the EPA and HUD on Monday, Oct. 21 from 5–6:30 p.m. CST for a webinar to learn more about your rights under the lead-based paint disclosure rule and the renovation, repair and painting rules, including how you can report violations of those rules. Register here.

• Understanding Lead (English with sign language interpretation): Join the EPA Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 1–2 p.m. CST for a live webinar about lead, its impacts, and actions that can be taken to reduce potential lead exposures and lead poisoning. Register here.

• El impacto del plomo en el aire interior y en la salud de los niños (the impact of lead on indoor air and children's health, offered only in Spanish): Join the EPA and HUD Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 12–1 p.m. CST for a webinar about the impact of lead on indoor air quality, effects of lead on children and why they’re vulnerable along with sources of lead in the home and outdoors. Learn how to minimize your risk of lead exposure. Register here.

• Información sobre el plomo (Understanding Lead in Spanish): Join the EPA Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 1–2:30 p.m. CST for a live webinar in Spanish about lead, its impacts, and actions that can be taken to reduce potential lead exposures and lead poisoning. Register here.

• Leave lead behind: How to protect your family from exposure: Join the CDC Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 12–1 p.m. CST; learn more about how to prevent lead exposure, the health effects of lead exposure, what to do if a child has been exposed to lead and historical national trends for lead levels. Register here.

• Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule Awareness (English with simultaneous Spanish interpretation): Join EPA Thursday, Oct. 24 from 12–1 p.m. CST for a live presentation for contractors about the EPA's RRP rule, which concerns RRP projects in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978. Register here.

In 2023, State Rep. Pat Boy (D-Michigan City) supported Rep. Carolyn Jackson’s (D-Hammond) legislation, HEA 1138, which became law in May 2023. This law requires lead testing of drinking water at child care and preschool facilities, implementing crucial preventative measures against the long-term effects of lead poisoning on children’s neurological development. During the 2024 legislative session, Rep. Boy proposed HB 1229, demonstrating her commitment to ensuring the health and safety of lead poisoning prevention in children, and supported SEA 5, which speeds up the replacement of lead utility lines throughout the state.

Rep. Boy released the following statement in regard to NLPPW:

“During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, I encourage everyone to participate by taking proactive steps to reduce lead exposure in our homes. Share important information about lead poisoning prevention with your friends and family, and use social media to spread the message further. Together, we have the power to make a real difference and create a healthier future for our communities.

In Indiana, we are making strides through legislative efforts to address lead exposure. At the Statehouse, I will continue to fight for further proactive measures that work to safeguard against the aggressive impacts of lead poisoning on our children and advocate for solutions that lead towards a lead-free Indiana.”

Boy celebrates the downfall of harmful PFAS definition

Two weeks ago, the Senate Committee on Environmental Affairs did not call down House Bill 1399, a bill that sought to define three chemicals used in manufacturing in Indiana, known as PFAS, into a section of Indiana law. Since HB 1399 was not granted a committee hearing, it was effectively dead. Due to an arcane process that allows language that passed out of one Chamber, but failed in the other, to be brought back during final negotiations. The provision in HB 1399 was added into House Bill 1329 yesterday. Less than 48 hours later, the language was removed and the chemical companies' PFAS carve-out is not moving forward.

State Rep. Pat Boy (D-Michigan City) released the following statement:

“To make it perfectly clear, there are no PFAS chemicals truly of ‘low concern'. All PFAS chemicals are or will become toxic, and they pose serious risks to our health and environmental well-being. This year, House Republicans attempted to pass a legal definition that designates only three forms of the chemicals known as PFAS. These three forms are non-polymeric, the smallest molecules, which are the most easily absorbed. 

“The Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, an agency of the CDC, has determined that PFAS can migrate into soil, water, and air. The action of these smaller, non-polymeric PFAS molecules are the most easily ingested by animals and humans. They have been found in fish, whales, and us – humans. Other polymeric PFAS are much larger molecules and are often created by the smaller non-polymeric molecules. Some are used in baby mats, car seats, snack packaging, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant carpeting, some non-stick cookware, and other products. But after use, or laundering, or vacuuming, these larger particles eventually break down through microbial or environmental action, becoming the smaller non-polymer molecules once again.

“Studies have revealed that exposure to PFAS may result in altered immune and thyroid function, liver and insulin dysregulation, kidney disease, adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes, and cancer. There is still much unknown about the effects of PFAS since most have yet to be tested. These chemicals act the way microplastics do, persisting in our bodies and the environment virtually forever – thus the name, ‘forever chemicals.’

“I'm happy that the original bill died, and that they failed to add this language to yet another bill. This definition will not be codified in Indiana law. If they had only stated that the three chemicals were a necessity for essential products, there would have been no law needed because we had no standard definition for PFAS, but they went at it from the wrong perspective.”

Boy’s attempt to increase environmental protections blocked by House Republicans

During the 2024 legislative session, State Rep. Pat Boy (D- Michigan City) proposed two bills to increase Indiana’s environmental protections. House Bill 1404 outlaws the use of coal fly ash as structural fill. House Bill 1403 redefines the vague, legal classification of Indiana’s wetlands to further ensure their protection. Both bills were referred to the House Committee of Environmental Affairs where they were denied a hearing.  

“I’m devastated that my environmental bills were blocked,” Boy said. “Indiana is one of the worst in the nation for pollution and water quality. I live close to Lake Michigan, and I’ve noticed a decline in our natural ecosystem. I proposed both of these bills because of their direct need in Northern Indiana.  

“Coal ash regulations are something my district desperately wants – especially the Town of Pines. They authored a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging them to ban using toxic coal ash as structural fill. Many of the buildings in Pines were built using coal fly ash. The structural fill contains arsenic, lead, cobalt and some toxic chemicals that are radioactive. I’ve offered bills regulating coal ash each year since 2021. They’ve been blocked every time. I find the legislature's lack of environmental action extremely concerning. 

“Instead, we regressed this session by eliminating wetland and Per -and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) regulations. The House passed HB 1383 eliminating some protections for our Class 3 wetlands, and HB 1399 potentially allows PFAS chemicals to be used for research and development pending Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) rules. We had the opportunity to promote the well-being of our environment and residents, but House Republicans did the opposite. I stand by the value these protections would provide to Hoosiers, and I will continue fighting for an eco-friendly Indiana.”