Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on May 17, 2007

Click here to view bill details.

needs to be more specific about the levels of lead that must be notified. MDEQ is not qualified. Their criteria is all over the board. HUD and EPA uses sound science in their numbers. Hope you realize that every large city is covered with lead from either the old exhaust from cars or foundry fill. The soil on the property is only part of the problem. The vacant lots where kids tend to play goes under the radar.

I haven't heard a case of lead poisoning in 30 years. Am I just not getting the news?

cases of lead poisoning, it's just somebody trying to get money out of the government.

Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Toys Recalled Chinese Manufacturer Used Lead Paint on 1.5 Million Toys, as Nation's Recall Rate Troubles Safety Experts Thomas & Friends wooden railway vehicles are the latest products from China to be recalled due to the use of lead in the products. (cpsc.com) By BRIAN HARTMAN June 13, 2007 One of the most-beloved toys in the world has joined the growing list of Chinese-made products to be pulled from store shelves for safety reasons. RC2 Corp., which sells Thomas the Tank Engine toys, warned parents Wednesday to stop their children from using 1.5 million Thomas & Friends wooden railway vehicles and set components because their surface paint contains lead, a toxin that's dangerous if swallowed. Related Stories Engine Trouble: List of Recalled ProductsChina Calls for More Testing of ExportsProduct Recall: "Consumers should take the recalled toys away from young children immediately," the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in the recall notice. The company said this recall accounts for about 4 percent of the total wooden trains it sells in the United States (Click here for a list of the recalled products.) "As part of a thorough investigation, RC2 identified the issue, isolated the manufacturing facility, and has implemented a corrective action plan," the company said in a prepared statement released by the PR firm Salmon Borre Group. Salmon Borre Group refused to answer any questions about the timing of the investigation, the location of the facility or give urther details of what's been done to resolve the problem. So far, the lead is not suspected of causing any injuries."At this time, there have been no reports of illness or injury as a result of this issue," said the recall notice. But consumer advocates said that doesn't necessarily mean children have not been injured. "Even if the amounts of lead in one product are small, the cumulative exposure is the problem," said Sally Greenberg of Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports. "You have it in bibs and lunch boxes and over a period of time it can become a serious problem." Recall Overload? The CPSC has stepped up scrutiny of products made in China following a rise in dangerous imports from the country. Last month, Graco Children's Products recalled 40,000 stuffed fabric blocks decked in pictures of apples, bananas and fire engines after dozens of infants gagged and choked on a plastic film covering on the toys. And the toy company Hasbro recalled nearly 1 million of its popular Easy-Bake Ovens -- also made in China -- following more than two dozen reports of children getting their hands and fingers stuck in the oven, with some suffering severe burns. China by far leads the list of countries making products that are recalled in the United States, accounting for 65 percent of all the recalled products in this country this year, according to CPSC. In 2006, China accounted for 233 product recalls -- nearly double the rate from the previous year, with lead a recurring cause among the recalls. Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Toys Recalled 123Next Read All 132 Comments and Post Your Own

and somehow get these kids to pass the MEAP, too. The issue needs to be addressed. You don't hear of that many cases because the problem is usually in low income areas (rentals) where the citizens are unaware, undereducated or too impaired themselves to realize the risk to their children and how to stand up for themselves. Many times the people with money have the power and influence to sweep the problem under the rug. (Manufacturing and rental unit owners) It needs to end, especially in a state with such high standards over the national average tests. Michigan goes above what is required by federal law in terms of testing. Back your teachers up by passing some of these laws and holding people accountable for lead exposure. Educate the public.

Protect them NOW or pay for their welfare later. Pick one.

The goddess of health.

Wonder what the profit margin of that manufacturer was last year. HMMM.

and voice.

is only a problem if you EAT THE SOIL. if it weren't so, workers in lead mines would be dropping dead after only a couple of minutes exposure, instead of living long and happy lives after retirement. lead is dangerous, yes. there are rules for dealing with lead and surviving, you should learn them. what are your kids going to do when you cannot supply them with their daily dose of 'x-box' because the game contains lead, and so does the television, and the wires that power it, and the box it came in? what are your kids going to do for education when they cannot go to school, because the ink in their books contain lead, and so does the battery in the bus that takes them there, and so does the fuel that powers that bus, and the anti-freeze that keeps it running on cold winter day, and so does the RADIATOR that holds that antifreeze? how are your kids going to bathe or drink when the pipes that bring the water to you contain lead, and every pipe joint that is in your home is soldered with lead bearing solder, and every hunk of pvc pipe AND the glue that holds it together contain lead? the keyboard you are typing on now contains lead, the computer you are looking at contains lead, the plug on the wall contains lead. the crystal glasses you clinked at your wedding contain lead. the red paint on the ship that imported the champagne contained lead. the little flask you take to the game to have a 'little nipper' contains lead.

Experts come into our classrooms and speak to teachers and kids about it. We also send information come with parents. It's a real problem.

It is a very serious problem.

It's a problem.

It's worth it to learn the FACTS about lead. I don't think you know all the facts yet. Teachers do because we are under a great deal of pressure from the state with higher than national standards for testing. So...we are becoming experts on the things that cause brain damage and violent behavior in our students. The state expecets a great deal from us, so we are asking for their support in protecting our children and parents so that they can reach their full potential and not become DEPENDENT on the state down the road in some form or another. I think it makes a difference when you learn your facts from experts and from people with relatives DYING from lead complications. I don't think most people will buy into your post. You're right that lead is MANY places, though, and I'm glad our government is taking note of that.

how many THOUSANDS OF YEARS did the roman empire have lead pipes? how many THOUSANDS OF YEARS did the romans have lead lined baths? how many kids in YOUR CLASS test positive for exposure to lead? at what levels? how many lead bearing substances are in your class? how many children IN MICHIGAN test positive each year for lead? at what levels?

DIE of lead poisoning a year in michigan? how many kids have been exposed? how long has michigan had lead pipes?

I don't know the number of DEATHS. Good question. I'm sure it happens, though. The deaths are tragic, but more rare I'm sure than being affected by it and having to live with it. Through education and good leadership, it can be prevented.

in your class to know that even SOME is too many. Since lead sure seems to be MANY places that we've never thought of before, it seems to be a logical conclusion that it is likely affecting our children's abililty to learn and our citizens' behavior to the extent that MEAP scores are reduced and that jail and legal system costs could be reduced if we were to address the issue through swift legislation, education and communication. It's just a question of how you want your tax dollars to be spent. It makes more sense to spend dollars on PREVENTING and TREATING lead poisoning than paying for welfare, jails, prosecuting, adult education and the like. Michigan can save money by having preventative AND compassionate legislation. We have a great deal we could learn from other states in this area. I think collaboration is a must here.

how many kids in YOUR CLASS have lead poisoning? you didn't answer the question.

issue some RATIONAL THOUGHT? it seems that you are surprised at how many things around your house contain lead. why is this? are YOU not educated about what does, and what doesn NOT contain lead? are you aware just how serious the lead problem is? how many children in YOUR CLASS are suffering from lead poisoning RIGHT NOW?

you have no clue as to whether lead is at the root cause of your problems or not. you just choose to blame it because it's easy and it's trendy. please educate yourself on the amounts of lead in the students you teach, but remember, you have to violate their privacy to do it. you have to violate their PARENT'S privacy to do it. because you are trying to prove which of the parents in the class are POISONING THEIR KIDS. by the way, it's not the parent's fault that the pipes in this state are made of lead, it's the LEGISLATOR'S. the same bunch of guys you are going to to SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT THEY CREATED.

you are quite incapable of not prattling endlessly on line. have you checked your lead level recently?

poisoning have presented to our entire school district. We are more informed than the average citizen. The word is OUT! We are informed enough to know that there are dangers to citizens if there is lead in the soil. If it is significant enough that it has been detected by the government in a landlord's yard, then tenants have the right to know. Disclosure would be the key word here. It can get in the soil through being close to the road where lead was in the gas used by vehicles. The chances of it being the FAULT of the landlord is RARE. It is truly unfortunate that it might cut into the profit margin of landlords during these challenging economic times, BUT there should be disclosure of lead AND METH. It is my understanding that even a SMALL amount of lead exposure can do damage, especially to a child. And no the child does not need to LICK the vinyl lunch bag to be affected.

You have every right to try to protect your business, just as I have every right to try to protect children and families using every means available. It's a free country. Have a nice day.

the question... how many of YOUR STUDENTS have been exposed to lead? how many will test positive for lead? why haven't they been tested? if you are to prevent something, isn't it helpful to know if your kids have even been exposed to it? or is it simply more fun to whine about it?

the children in your class. get them tested. draw their blood no matter what the parents say (remember, THEY are the ones, according to you, that are poisoning their kids). just remember, before you do, make sure that NOTHING IN YOUR SCHOOL, OR ON THE WAY TO AND FROM IT, CONTAINS LEAD, or you are contributing to the problem just as much as they are.

you just ASSUME that i am.

on only the landlord? why not test every school for lead in the soil, and notify every parent if any is found there? why not notify the parents you think are lead poisoned? (or can you reliably identify a victim of lead poisoning?)

lead level. 230 grains of lead times seven in the mag, and one up the spout. it's all there. thanks for asking.

landlords protecting children? what can a landlord do about pipes the state sends his houses water? what can a landlord do about lead from almost a hundred years of leaded gasoline? is it the landlord's job to clean up the environment? and if he CAN'T do anything about the lead on his property, he CAN'T be a landlord? that will put a lot of people out of housing. including the 'poor' people you whine incessantly about. the truth is, when all is said and done, that we will find that the STATE OF MICHIGAN will be found responsible for the lead problems of the citizens of this state. it allows lead pipes to be used to this very day, using the excuse that it would be prohibitively expensive to replace them. choosing instead to poison it's citizens. it allowed leaded gasoline to be used in this state for almost a hundred years. knowing full well (since the roman empire) the effects on people exposed to that lead. once again, the state CHOSE TO POISON IT'S CITIZENS. it allowed dumping of toxic chemicals into the great lakes, rivers, and streams of this state. once AGAIN choosing to poison the citizens of this state. don't whine to me about landlords, and try to dump this state responsibility on them.

I wonder how that one is going. It hadn't occured to me to check the soil in schools. Great thinking! I'll get right on that.:) Great brainstorming session we are having today. Perhaps the government SHOULD be responsible for testing the water and soil of schools. It makes TOTAL sense in preventing learning problems down the road. I know Kalamazoo County Health Department comes to the schools and tests for lead in students (with parent permission I am sure.) I wish every county in our state would do that. I know lead can sometimes be treated through a change in diet.

it, like mercury, stays in the body for years. so no, it cannot be reversed by diet. why hasn't the state checked ALL schools for lead on the grounds? why hasn't the state checked for lead in all school's water? so much for the LEADERSHIP shown by your elected leaders.

Please! Urban schools TEND to have lower MEAP scores. One factor, perhaps a significant one, is the number of parents that live in RENTALS in an urban district. They tend not to know the HISTORY of the house as well as an owner would. (LEAD, METH, etc.) It is important to our SOCIETY that these things be disclosed by landlords even though it will likely affect their business income. There should be strong consequences if there isn't full disclosure. Lead can cause significant brain damage in children. It only takes a small amount in children to do damage. Death is also a possibility.

can only have damage from lead if you EAT the soil. Check your facts. I think playing in the yard and bringing it in on your shoes is a danger from what I am told.

they intend to buy to avoid this complication. Most counties have a lead number to call for assistance. Stores like Lowe's have testing kits for sale as well I believe.

addresses with the community. Isn't there already a meth page like this?

not just walk through it. you have to find some kind of way to take it into your body. eating or drinking. it does not absorb through the skin. it does not enter through the air, remember,lead is one of the heaviest elements, and it doesn't just float around on the air currents. it also doesn't just 'appear' in the bloodstream when in casual contact with it happens. workers in lead mines have survived to ripe old ages for centuries. doctors use lead and mercury amalgams for tooth fillings today. if you have reason to believe that any of your students have been exposed to lead, then have them tested. bring up your concerns,backed up with the REASONS that you feel that they have been exposed to high levels of lead, and the state will step in. you don't need additional legislation. you just need to get your facts in order. you are twenty times more likely to be poisoned by mercury, which is in the fish in the lakes, than you are to be poisoned by lead.

of the house you live in? meth labs are typically destroyed totally, the buildings involved are torn down to reduce the possibility of poisoning another tennant with the toxic fumes. that's why the bulldozers come in after a meth raid and tear down the house. imagine the people who have had their houses destroyed because some meth head had to have his fix.

that everyone in a big city is exposed to lead? again, how many kids in the average michigan classroom has been poisoned by lead? please give us this information to back up your claim.