Section 124150 Of Article 7. Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 106. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 7.
124150
. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the
activities conducted by the department pursuant to Section 124130
have confirmed and supported the findings specified in Section 124125
and, in addition, have resulted in the following findings:
(a) Very few children are currently tested for elevated blood lead
levels in California. The lead registry established pursuant to
Section 124130 has been effective at identifying incidents of
occupational lead poisoning; however, because childhood lead
screening is not now required in California, the registry is unable
to serve as the exclusive mechanism to identify children with
elevated blood lead levels. Additional blood lead screening needs to
be done to identify children at high risk of lead poisoning.
(b) Based on emerging information about the severe deleterious
effects of low levels of lead on children's health, the lead danger
level is expected to be lowered from 25 to 15 micrograms of lead per
deciliter of human blood.
(c) Lead poisoning poses a serious health threat for significant
numbers of California children. Based on lead registry reports and
targeted screening results, the department has estimated that tens of
thousands of California children may be suffering from blood lead
levels greater than the danger level.
(d) The implications of lead exposure to children and pregnant
women from lead brought home on the clothing of workers is unknown,
but may be significant.
(e) Levels of lead found in soil and paint around and on housing
constitute a health hazard to children living in the housing. No
regulations currently exist to limit allowable levels of lead in
paint surfaces in California housing.