PROBLEM:

• New York allows 2x the amount of lead in child blood testing compared to federal guidelines.  This petition aims to correct this.

FACTS:

• Many New York City school water fountains have been found to have​ higher​ Lead​ levels​ than​ Flint,​ Michigan following statewide testing performed December 2016.
• New York has found over 33,000 school water fountains and faucets that have tested positive for Lead since December 2016.
• As of March 2017, All NYC Borough Presidents have called on DOE to provide free bottled water and child blood lead tests.
• Minimal Lead exposure in children has been proven to lower their intelligence quotient (IQ), cause Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), increase aggression​, enhance delinquency​, decrease rates of childhood growth​, cause hearing impairments, and cause infertility.

• Current New York Childhood testing standards are outdated by more than 5 years - this means what the New York State Department of Health considers "elevated levels" of Lead found in a child's blood is literally 2x higher than the current standard set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
• When New York children have 2x the amount of Lead in their blood as is safe, high school graduation rate decreases, and the delinquency rate increases. Both scenarios have proven associations with Lead exposure.  Both scenarios hurt our economy.  We can do better.
• The CDC considers 5ug/dL of Lead in a child's blood to be considers "elevated." New York State considers 10ug/dL to be "elevated."  The CDC  their standard in January 2012, following the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). 
• A study by the National Institute of Health projects national savings of $1.2 trillion from costs associated with the proven effects of early childhood Lead exposure on high school graduation rates and on crime.

 GOAL:

• New York’s Childhood Health standards MUST be updated immediately.  Specifically, The New York State Department of Health standard of "elevated levels" of Childhood Blood Lead needs to be updated to match the current standard as defined by the CDC (5ug/dL).
• Governor Andrew Cuomo must recognize that the voting population of New York is aware and concerned about the Lead exposure situation our children currently face and he must take appropriate action to mitigate these risks.
• Governor Andrew Cuomo should strongly urge his appointee Howard Zucker, the Commissioner of Health for New York State, as well as Mary Travis Bassett, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, to prioritize this matter.  The necessary policy changes include the following:

1. Update New York State NYS Public Health Law, Title 10 of Article 13 Section § 1370 so that the definition of "elevated levels" of Childhood Blood Lead lower from 10ug/dL down to 5ug/dL, following the current CDC standards by the end of the calendar school year - June 28, 2017. 
2. Update Pediatrician testing standards and follow up care regarding childhood Lead exposure. Specifically that the New York State protocol set for "elevated levels" of Childhood Blood Lead follows the NHANES updated, lower level of "5ug/dL" and adheres to legal protocol 24 CFR 35.1130 as set to current CDC standards, in compliance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, by June 28, 2017.
3. Develop and send a Public Service Announcement to schools, independent educators, and pediatricians in order to require them to contact parents of all New York residing children who have had positive blood lead test results between 5ug/dL and 9.9ug/dL since 2012, by June 28, 2017.  This enables parents to independently pursue follow-up testing and develop an action plan, if necessary.
4. Develop and send a Public Service Announcement to schools, independent educators, and pediatricians in order to require them to inform all New York residing parents of the updated New York State Elevated Childhood Blood Lead Level definition of "elevated" as 5ug/dL, as initially set by the CDC in 2012.

• Join us in our Cause! Help to protect our youth and provide them with the promise of a better, safer, and healthier future!
• If you live in the boroughs of New York City, you can order a free lead test kit to test the water in your home. Click the link below:
  
  http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1266/request-lead-test-kit-for-drinking-water
• If your child attends a school in the boroughs of New York City, you can check current available lead test results. Click the link below:
  
  http://schools.nyc.gov/aboutus/schools/watersafety.htm
• Thank You for Your Support! 
  #LeadFreeNYC    @C4AC_NYC   @HealthNYGov