Lead Hazards in Army Housing

Transcription

1 Lead Hazards in Army Housing Fort Lee, Virginia 14 Sep 17 Installation Management Command integrates and delivers base support to enable readiness for a globally-responsive Army We are the Army s Home Serving the Rugged Professional COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 1 of Sep 18

2 Townhall Agenda Background Where do lead hazards come from? What is the situation at Fort Lee? What can you do to reduce lead risk in your home? Process for testing and mitigation or elimination? Health effects of Lead exposure Who can I talk to about this? How can I educate myself about lead hazards? The Army s way forward (DGC) (DPW ENV) (DPW ENV) (DPW ENV) (DPW ENV) (MEDCOM) (MEDCOM) (MEDCOM) (DGC) COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 2 of Sep 18

3 Media reports and Congressional interest A story posted by Reuters on 16 August 2018 noted the incidence of elevated blood lead levels in children and some serious health effects on some children that may be related to lead exposures from living in Army housing The report was discussed in an Army Times article on 17 August 2018 and is being reported by other media outlets Some members of Congress are following up with the Army COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 3 of Sep 18

4 Where do lead hazards come from? Homes built before 1978 may have significant levels of lead in paint Federal law banned the sale of lead based paint (LBP) after 1978 As long as the paint remains encapsulated, there is no hazard If this paint deteriorates or is damaged, lead may be released to the surrounding environment which can be present in dust, soil and paint chips There are other sources of lead hazards drinking water, carried home from workplaces, hobbies, utensils, toys, food, cosmetics, etc.` COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 4 of Sep 18

5 Conditions at Fort Lee No Family Housing built prior to 1978 Oldest Family Housing constructed in 1996 No High Risk Facilities (HRFs) built prior to 1978 Child Development Centers, Youth Centers (oldest 1993) Kenner Army Health Clinic constructed in 1962 Major renovation in 1997 including LBP abatement Limited LBP remains; managed in place, monitored for condition COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 5 of Sep 18

6 Conditions at Fort Lee (Continued) Drinking Water - All new water lines and fixtures in Family Housing Oldest water lines in housing from 1996 Water testing at HRFs show no elevated lead levels (latest 2013, scheduled 2018) Annual Consumer Confidence Reports from Virginia American Water provided to all housing and barracks residents 152 Buildings remaining built prior to scheduled for demolition within 5 years 66 renovated with LBP abated/encapsulated Remaining, where known, LBP is managed in place Primarily industrial use facilities COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 6 of Sep 18

7 What can you do to reduce lead risk in your home? Inspect and maintain all painted surfaces to prevent paint deterioration. Make sure your child does not have access to peeling paint or painted chewable surfaces Use only cold water to prepare food and drinks Flush water outlets used for drinking or food preparation Clean debris out of outlet screens or faucet aerators on a regular basis Avoid using containers, cookware, or tableware that are not shown to be lead-free to store or cook foods or liquids Be aware of lead hazards from other sources; toys, cosmetics, spent ammunition and certain hobbies such as stained glass and pottery COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 7 of Sep 18

8 What is the process for testing and mitigation or elimination? How is a home screened/tested for a possible lead hazard? A qualified risk assessor visually inspects paint for damage, and takes samples of significantly damaged paint Dust wipe samples are taken in areas where children may contact damaged paint, paint chips, or lead-containing dust The risk assessor may take soil samples The initial risk assessment is a screening procedure. Further risk assessments may be taken if the screen identifies a lead hazard What is the process for abatement or mitigation and elimination? Abatement- a process designed to permanently eliminate lead based paint hazards Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP)- activity performed as an interim control to minimize lead hazards; not designed to permanently eliminate lead based paint hazards EPA requires individuals & firms who perform abatement and RRP to be certified COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 8 of Sep 18

9 Health effects of Lead exposure There is no safe level of exposure to lead Even children with blood lead concentrations below 5 mg/dl can suffer decreases in mental ability. They may display incidence of developmental issues Children with higher levels of lead blood lead concentrations (5-10 mg/dl) may develop hearing problems, anemia and behavior and learning problems Your healthcare provider can help you determine if your child is at risk of exposure to lead. Follow your State s policy on lead screening for children. For high risk populations, a blood lead test can help determine the level of exposure COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 9 of Sep 18

10 What to do if you have health concerns? Schedule an appointment with your child s primary care physician The provider will ask screening questions and order a test to check for lead exposure if your child should be tested The Army follows lead screening guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) at well-child examinations The Preventive Medicine Department is a resource for families with any lead-related concerns as well as those who need assistance with any of the above You and the Army medical treatment facility are partners in ensuring the health and well-being of your children. We are as dedicated as you are to this goal, so please share your concerns with us COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 10 of Sep 18

11 How can I educate myself about lead hazards? The Army Public Health Center has a web page with useful information on lead hazards, including measures to protect your children, and links to resources: Various agencies provide resources: Environmental Protection Agency Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Department of Housing and Urban Development Healthcare provider COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 11 of Sep 18

12 The Army s way forward The Army is developing a plan to execute a tiered approach for validating that current Army procedures protect families from health hazards associated with lead. This plan will validate procedures for Army owned and leased houses as well as privatized houses under Residential Communities Initiative (RCI). The first tier of the Army s effort will be on a proportion of pre-1978 houses with children 6 and under. It will involve confirmation of the lead hazard screening results as well as testing of potable water at the tap for lead. After review of the results of this initial effort, the Army will assess the effectiveness of current procedures and determine whether additional validation efforts are required. Continue to inform and educate COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, UNCLASSIFIED - 12 of Sep 18

13 Questions 9/12/2018 COL Hollie Martin, Garrison Commander, Pre-decisional UNCLASSIFIED Draft - 13 of Sep 13 18