Bill Text: NJ SJR90 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates October as "Lead Poisoning Awareness Month."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-27 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [SJR90 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-SJR90-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Designates October as "Lead Poisoning Awareness Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating October of each year as "Lead Poisoning Awareness Month."
Whereas, Approximately 1,400 children in New Jersey were found to have elevated blood levels at or above 5 micrograms per deciliter according to the 2020 Annual Report on Childhood Lead Exposure in New Jersey, published by the New Jersey Department of Health; and
Whereas, Symptoms of lead poisoning in children include developmental delays and learning difficulties due to the damage elevated lead levels cause to the brain and nervous system; and
Whereas, New Jersey law requires health care providers to test children at ages 1 and 2 for elevated blood lead levels; and
Whereas, The primary source of lead poisoning in children is the ingestion of lead based paint, which was frequently used in residential housing built prior to 1978; and
Whereas, According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 20 percent of lead exposure comes from drinking water, although the percentage is higher for infants who consume mostly mixed formula; and
Whereas, The leading cause of lead exposure in adults is occupational exposure in the construction industry, according to the New York City Department of Health; and
Whereas, Hobbies with a high risk of lead exposure include jewelry making, stained glass making, and antique furniture refinishing and restoration; and
Whereas, Approximately 0.2 out of every 100,000 employed adults in New Jersey had elevated blood levels in 2020 , according to the New Jersey Department of Health; and
Whereas, Lead poisoning in adults causes high blood pressure, and brain, kidney, and reproductive health issues; and
Whereas, In 1986, Congress passed an amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act to prohibit the use of pipes, solder, or flux that contain lead in plumbing that provides water to be used for human consumption; and
Whereas, The use of lead based paint was banned in New Jersey in 1972 and federally in 1978; and
Whereas, In 2021, Governor Murphy signed three bills into
law - P.L.2021, c.182 (C.52:27D-437.16 et seq.), P.L.2021, c.183 (C.58:12A-40
et seq.), and P.L.2021, c.183 (C.40A:4-35.2 et al.) - which address lead
exposure by, among other things, requiring lead paint inspections of certain
residential rental properties, and requiring public community water systems to
inventory and replace their lead drinking water service lines; and
Whereas, Lead poisoning still poses a threat to the public health of our State, thus it is fitting and proper to designate October of each year "Lead Poisoning Awareness Month," in order to raise awareness of the risk factors associated with lead and the methods of screening for lead poisoning; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of October of each year is designated as "Lead Poisoning Awareness Month" in New Jersey, in order to raise public awareness of the dangers of elevated blood lead levels and the methods by which the risk of lead exposure may be minimized.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing October of each year as "Lead Poisoning Awareness Month."
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution would designate October of each year as "Lead Poisoning Awareness Month" in the State.
