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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Sen. John Yudichak and Sen. Lisa Baker, joined by members of the Senate Lead Task Force, hosted a roundtable Tuesday on lead exposure, lead testing, and lead abatement policies in Pennsylvania.</p><p>The roundtable featured Luzerne County Head Start, Maternal and Family Health Services, Early Intervention Services for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties, and St. Luke&#8217;s Hospital&#8211;Miners Campus.</p><p>Last October, the state Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 33 &#8212; a measure authored by Yudichak that created a statewide Senate Lead Task Force and Advisory Committee under the direction of the Joint State Government Commission.</p><p>Representing organizations that provide direct health and educational services to thousands of children in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the roundtable participants added valuable input on newly proposed legislation by Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, and Baker, R-Lehman Township, that would require universal lead testing for children and expectant mothers.</p><p>&#8220;Universal lead testing is an effective and essential tool in preventing lead exposure in Pennsylvania children,&#8221; Yudichak said. &#8220;With over 70 percent of homes in Luzerne County being built prior to the 1978 federal ban on lead paint, it is imperative that universal lead testing become a primary prevention strategy for lead exposure in Pennsylvania.&#8221;</p><p>Currently, federal law requires children covered by Medical Assistance and the Affordable Care Act to be tested.</p><p>&#8220;Head Start screens all children who go through our program for lead exposure,&#8221; said Lynn Biga, executive director of Luzerne County Head Start. &#8220;It&#8217;s a national regulation that we follow and we know that even very low levels of lead exposure can have lasting negative effects on children.&#8221;</p><p>Lead exposure can cause long-term neurological and physical impairments, and children in at least 20 Pennsylvania cities, including Wilkes-Barre, have tested positive for elevated lead levels.</p><p>&#8220;Although a lot of work has been done to determine and document the serious health effects of lead exposure, it too often remains a hidden threat,&#8221; Baker said. &#8220;The effects are especially devastating in the development of children. There is much to be done in terms of alerting people to the dangers, identifying sources of lead contamination, and paying for removing and eliminating the risks.&#8221;</p><p>The roundtable was also attended by staff of the Joint State Government Commission, who are conducting research for a comprehensive report required from the Senate Lead Task Force and Advisory Committee.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Yudichak </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_retreat03CMYK.jpg</photo0><caption0>Yudichak </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Times Leader Staff</p></bylineMeta></div>

Yudichak, Baker host roundtable on lead exposure and testing