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Fw: E-M:/ Re: Is lead paint an environmental issue?

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Enviro-Mich message from "Pam Ortner" <ortpam@mediaone.net>
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> Chris, I am glad you are making the connection.  Unfortunately, those
> responsible for the contamination are often not impacted.  Children are
the
> most vulnerable of the population and are often the most affected.
> Environmental standards are put into place to protect an adult male, when
> exposures to children are increased, due to their metabolism; they breathe
> at a faster rate, are closer to the earth and have habits, such as putting
> things in their mouth (contaminated dirt, lead paint) that adults don't.
> Those most affected are often without the resources to "just move away".
>
> The Michigan Department of Community Health data shows that more than half
> of the children found to have elevated blood lead in Michigan last year
> lived in the City of Detroit. The CDC reported "the findings indicate
that,
> despite the decreases in mean BLL [blood lead level] among children, the
> problem remains concentrated on a local level". Elevated blood lead has
been
> associated with reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems.
>
> It is not just a problem for Detroit, it is a problem for all of us.  "An
> injury to one is an injury to all".
>
> you might want to check the PBS site and look at their interactive site
> 'Trade Secrets'.  A recent report with Bill Moyers shwoed the connection
> between contamination and the impact to workers, communities and children.
>
> In peace and justice,
>
> Pamela Ortner
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Greene" <crgreene@med.umich.edu>
> To: <Enviro-mich@great-lakes.net>
> Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 3:00 PM
> Subject: Re: E-M:/ Re: Is lead paint an environmental issue?
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Enviro-Mich message from "Chris Greene" <crgreene@med.umich.edu>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Thank you to Dave Zaber and Conan Smith for addressing my (very honest)
> question.  I did not understand that public health issues are closely
> related to environmental issues. I thought Charles Simmons was saying that
> lead paint was somehow ruining the soil or something, and I was just too
> dumb to make the connection, so I asked.
>
> Frankly I still think humans killing our earth and humans killing
ourselves
> are two very different topics,  but now I'm interested enough to actually
> read these emails without deleting them.
>
> Chris "Greenbean" Greene
>
> >>> "David Zaber" <dzaber@chorus.net> 07/11/01 11:33PM >>>
> On the matter of lead paint and environmental issues:
>
> In addition to the totally legitimate consideration of indoor pollution as
a
> topic for this list, we should also remember that the mining, processing
and
> use of lead based materials has caused numerous pollution problems.  A
short
> trip to the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri would help one to
> understand the environmental stakes associated with mining lead in that
> area.  However, on the way back to Michigan, one could stop in at some of
> the toxic waste sites in the E. St. Louis area, including some that are
> considered very dangerous because of the lead contamination at those sites
> (there are lead smelters in the area that have contaminated the towns they
> are in).
>
> However, much more importantly, the idea that we can somehow parse
exposures
> to toxic chemicals inside the house from those that occur outside of the
> house is really only splitting hairs.  Total exposure to toxins matters.
> And with lead, exposures in the home are high can be high for children and
> must be reduced.  Eliminating children's exposure to lead, particularly in
> the inner cities, would be a major step towards improving the environment
> for all people, regardless of where they live.
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave Zaber
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Chris Greene
>   To: enviro-mich@great-lakes.net
>   Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 12:51 PM
>   Subject: E-M:/ Re: Is lead paint an environmental issue?
>
>
>   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
>   Enviro-Mich message from "Chris Greene" <crgreene@med.umich.edu>
>   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
>
>   Thank you for elaborating.  I still do not understand:
>   when I talk about "environmental issues," I am speaking of the air
> (outdoors), the water (outdoors) the plants and animals (outdoors).  I
agree
> that lead paint, closed air systems, old water pipes and domestic animal
> abuse are very real problems and should be addressed.  But to my
> understanding, that is not the purpose of this list.
>
>   If somehow you feel that lead paint (or the NAACP) are affecting the
> (outdoor) environment of Michigan, please elaborate.  I do not see the
> direct connection.
>
>   Chris "Greenbean" Greene
>
>   >>> <CSim592951@aol.com> 07/11/01 01:39PM >>>
>   Dear friend,
>
>   Your question about the relationship between lead paint and the
> environment
>   is an important one and may demonstrate the relationship the crucial
>   connection between urban and rural community environmental issues as
well.
> I
>   am not an expert on this issue so I hope others will join in the
> discussion.
>
>   Until about 20 years ago, --experts please correct me--most of the
houses
>   built in this area--Detroit--were subjected to paint which had a lead
> base.
>   Most of our housing stock is much older than 20years or the specific cut
> off
>   time. The lead paint and the dust from the paint are often inhaled,
picked
> up
>   in paint chips, or otherwise ingested when children play in the area or
> crawl
>   around on the floor in these houses, schools and other buildings.
>
>   The lead base has terrible effects on children including brain damage
>   depending upon the child's age and stage of development. Studies show
that
>   the lead also contributes to the child's agressive behavior.  There are
> other
>   important burdens on the impacted population by lead poisoning.
>
>   Since the danger is now widely recognized by the scientific and medical
>   community, some communities have initiated lawsuits against the lead
paint
>   industry with arguments very similar to that of the people who sued the
>   tobacco industry and now the gun industry. Simply stated,  If you
>   manufacture,sell or distribute a hazardous substance, then you bear some
> of
>   the responsibility for the harm that is caused.
>
>   Thanks for asking. I will try to locate more information for you.
>
>   Charles Simmons
>   Detroit
>
>
>
>
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>
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> and Conservation Issues and Michigan-based Citizen Action.   Archives at
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