Federal Plan To Reduce Childhood Lead Exposure Falls Short, Experts Say

Childhood lead experts across the country panned a federal action plan to reduce childhood lead exposure that the Trump administration unveiled on Wednesday, criticizing the strategy’s shortcomings, including its failure to commit to the elimination of lead poisoning, update federal standards and regulations with concrete timelines, and specify funding sources to implement its goals.

Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler described the plan as a roadmap to reduce lead exposure nationwide. It has four primary goals: identifying lead-exposed children, reducing children’s exposure to lead sources, communicating more effectively with stakeholders, and conducting research to inform these efforts.

“Lead exposure is a calamity that disproportionately harms children in low-income communities. All Americans, regardless of their age, race, income or home address, deserve an opportunity to live in safe and healthy environments,” Wheeler, co-chair of the President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children, told reporters Wednesday.

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