South Middlesex Times

A Rutgers Health expert has reviewed the ongoing challenges and progress in reducing lead exposure, emphasizing that consumer products still pose significant risks. Adrienne Ettinger, an adjunct professor at Rutgers School of Public Health and former chief of the Lead Poisoning Prevention and Environmental Health Tracking Branch at the CDC, highlighted these concerns in an invited commentary for Environmental Health Perspectives.

"Consumer products were consistently identified as one of the main sources of lead exposure – and the only identified source in 15 percent to 38 percent of cases – in investigations of children with elevated blood lead levels in these four jurisdictions," said Ettinger.

Ettinger's review focused on a study examining lead presence in consumer products across New York, California, Oregon, and Washington. The study was co-authored by Rutgers graduate Paromita Hore and involved Pure Earth along with state and local health departments.

Lead is prevalent in various consumer goods such as imported foods, spices, cosmetics, toys, and cake-decorating materials due to its durability and versatility. However, it remains a potent neurotoxin especially harmful to children. Even minimal exposure can impair neurodevelopment and cause long-term health issues like headaches, abdominal pain, infertility loss, and brain damage. Approximately 2.5 percent of children have blood lead levels exceeding the CDC’s reference value.

Despite these dangers, significant progress has been made over the years. "The removal of lead in gasoline and paint was declared one of the biggest public health successes in the 20th century," noted Ettinger. From 1976 to 2016, average blood lead levels among U.S. residents decreased by more than 95 percent. Nonetheless, about 800 million children globally still have blood lead levels above WHO’s concern threshold.

The regulatory framework for managing lead exposure in the U.S. is fragmented across various federal and state agencies responsible for different products and sources. This disjointed system creates potential loopholes that manufacturers might exploit unintentionally or otherwise. Historical use also continues to present risks through contamination from abandoned industrial sites or aging urban housing.

Experts recommend several measures to further reduce lead exposure: enhancing domestic and international laws with stricter enforcement could offer better protection for consumers; establishing a national data repository would help systematically track persistent risks.

"The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has called for a national data repository of consumer products identified with lead to systematically monitor and allow for better communication of ongoing risks to the public," said Ettinger.

Global trade complicates efforts further as products from countries with lax regulations can enter U.S markets via online platforms or personal transport. This international dimension highlights the need for global education and cooperation on this issue.

The U.S Agency for International Development advocates a worldwide initiative to eliminate toxic lead from consumer goods which may encourage stronger international regulation.

Consumers can protect themselves by staying informed about potential sources of lead through resources like recalls.gov or Consumer Reports which routinely tests products for safety concerns including lead content.

Residents renovating older homes should be cautious about possible presence of lead-based paint while those working with or around lead should consider regular blood tests after consulting their doctors.

"Ensuring that consumer products are free of lead and mitigating historical sources from production processes are critical actions for public health," concluded Ettinger.