Lewiston and Auburn confront epidemics of childhood lead poisoning. Over 9,300 housing units in downtown areas of the Twin Cities likely contain lead paint. Almost 1,500 children under age 6 live in these neighborhoods, and over 200 are likely lead-poisoned each year.

L.D. 1034, An Act to Prevent Lead Poisoning of Children and Adults, would begin to address this problem. L.D. 1034 enjoys broad support from medical and public health professionals, children’s groups and housing advocates. The bill relies on educational outreach strategies, not government mandates, to prevent lead poisoning. It will put information in the hands of parents, landlords and contractors to enable them to identify lead paint hazards and to take cost-effective precautions to prevent lead exposure, especially during remodeling projects. Perhaps most importantly, the bill will raise funds to prevent lead poisoning, not from Maine taxpayers but from national corporations that profited from the sale of lead paint.

Maine children are already paying too much for the toxic legacy of lead paint. The paint industry sold lead paint in the U.S. for 50 years after it was banned throughout the rest of the world, knowing full well that children and adults were being poisoned by their hazardous product. It’s only fitting that they share in responsibility for funding preventive actions now.

The Maine Legislature should give its full support to L.D. 1034 so that our kids no longer struggle to keep up in school or to succeed in life due to lead poisoning.

Bridget Huber,

food and health coordinator,

Lots to Gardens, Lewiston