HHS Chief Looks To Weaken State Lead Law

Health and human services commissioner Nick Toumpas says budget cuts have made it impossible for the state to enforce laws protecting children from lead poisoning. Under current law, the state manages lead poisoning cases when a child’s blood-lead level reaches 10 micrograms per deciliter, the maximum recommended by the Centers for disease Control. Toumpas says raising the blood-lead threshold that triggers state involvement in lead cases is a real possibility.

“We would try to do some legislation that would put it at the level that would be consistent with our ability to perform that with the resources that we do have. “

And those resources are increasing scant. Last week reassignments and layoffs eliminated 5 of the 7 jobs at the childhood lead poisoning and protection program. Strengthening state lead laws had been a point of pride for Governor John Lynch, who held a public bill signing ceremony when lawmakers lowered the lead poisoning threshold from 20 to 10 micrograms per deciliter in 2007. Lynch has since touted state lead poisioning efforts in campaign and fundraising flyers. How much the Governor may know about the potential rollback of those efforts is not entirely clear. The Governor was unavailable for comment for this story. His spokesman declined to be interviewed on tape. But he confirm the topic had been discussed at the Governor’s office, though not at what he termed “a high level.” Commissioner Toumpas recalled raising the issue with the Governor himself, but says can’t remember if any specific rollback bill was broached

“I’m not sure that we got into that level of detail with him, but we did say these are the things we are looking at.”

The federal government, meanwhile, is looking to increase lead pain protections. The EPA has proposed new rules to tighen renovation standards on homes built before 1978.