INC NEWS - Group to expose lead dangers (Herald-Sun)

[John Schelp]

Group to expose lead dangers
Herald-Sun, 16 February 2007

Recent water samples with high lead levels from a
number of Durham residences have raised public concern
about the safety of the county's drinking water. To
address these concerns, members of Duke University's
Children's Environmental Health Initiative, community
advocates, city officials and county public health
officials have formed the Durham Environmental Lead
Collaborative (DELC). 

"DELC's mission is to protect Durham County residents
from lead poisoning hazards from all sources," said
Marie Lynn Miranda, director of the Children's
Environmental Health Initiative and associate research
professor at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment
and Earth Sciences. 

DELC members met for the first time on Wednesday and
have begun to draft an action plan that will form the
basis for a communitywide "Lead Summit" to be held in
late March, said Miranda, who serves as facilitator
for the group. 

DELC membership includes the Durham City Manager's
Office, Durham Water Management, the Durham County
Health Department, the Partnership Effort for the
Advancement of Children's Health, Community Partners
Against Lead, the Durham Affordable Housing Coalition,
the Durham People's Alliance, the Durham Department of
Community Development, the Durham Department of
Neighborhood Improvement Services, the North Carolina
Children's Environmental Health Branch and the
Children's Environmental Health Initiative. 

In addition to water, other potential sources of lead
exposure include deteriorating lead-based paint in
dust and soil, lead-containing vinyl miniblinds,
traditional medicines or cosmetics, imported food,
batteries and hobby materials and some ceramics and
pottery. 

The new group will focus its efforts on especially
vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and
children, she said. It also will place a priority on
identifying and testing houses that are considered at
risk of exposure from household plumbing and lead
paint. 

DELC members identified four areas critical to
protecting public health: water testing, public
education, coordination of blood lead testing, and
coordination of testing for lead paint, dust and soil.
The group will seek community input on its action
plans in each of these areas through a variety of
venues, including the March summit. 

Miranda believes DELC will serve as a model for other
communities who wish to bring together diverse
stakeholders and establish a common mission and
meaningful action plan. 

"I was very impressed with the many talented and
capable people from our community who participated in
the meeting today. The commitment to working
collaboratively toward a common mission is absolutely
critical to protecting public health," she said.