At least two Butler County school districts have been dealing with the presence of lead and other containments in their drinking water.
And now, the state is weighing in on the issue. The Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee held a hearing in northeast PA this week to hear testimony about the dangers of lead contamination and the Commonwealth’s efforts to mitigate it.
Lawmakers- including chairman of the committee Senator Gene Yaw- admit Pennsylvania is coming up short in its efforts and that’s especially troubling given what lead exposure can do to a developing child.
“We do have, in some areas, significant issues involving lead,” Yaw said.
Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Loren Robinson was among those testifying at the committee’s field hearing, which was held in Pittston, Luzerne County.
“What we know about lead exposure is that even children with blood lead levels that were previously thought to be normal or low, can suffer from long-term effects,” Robinson said. “These include learning disabilities, behavior problems or developmental delays.”
The threat looms in pipes, plumbing fixtures and paint and other older building materials. Experts testified that Pennsylvania ranks 3rd in the nation with the most housing units built before 1950.
