Document 5b0Y63QMwXrbvr6ZyBpJ6kape

August 77, 1971 Dr. J. F. Cole International Lead Zinc Research Organization Inc. 292 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10017 Dear Jerry: Attached is clipping from a Pittsburgh news paper. According to the newspaper report the Health Board has taken a stand that possible lead poisoning is indicated by a lead level lower tnan 80 micrograms Will you please investigate this action to determine exactly what the Health Board's regulations are, and if correctly reported, cn what basis do they make the statement about the low le/el of lead being indicative of poisoning? Vours very truly, Enclosure WLM:cd bcc ; Messrs. L. H. Herthneck R. W. Merritt^' E. J. Nichols J. T. Rich i sed . 1 V . . Minn eolth D-?pr. 0000-NU-OOOOX0694 Letad poijorJng rejpoPifaalbBe dosecsse Secretary of Health Dr J. Finton Speller, announced this week that lead poisoning is now a reportable disease in Pennsylvania, following action taken bv the Advisory Health Board at Its Julv meeting. The board made the disease reportable bv defining what constitutes the presence of lead poisoning and possible lead poisoning, and bv amending the regulations governing communicable and noncommumcabie diseases to include them According to the new amendment, lead poisoning is evidenced by a blood lead level of 80 micrograms ( 08 per cent) or higher and must be reported to the local health authorities Possible Lead Poisoning is indicated by a blood lead level of 40 to 79 micrograms (.04 per cent to .079 per cent) and must also be reported. Dr Speller said the Surgeon General. United States Public Health Service, has recommended lead poisoning be made a reportable disease, and said that the classifications adopted in Pennsylvania follow the Surgeon General's suggested standards Lead poisoning is an environmental disease found in old. poorlv maintained houses. Children, usually between the ages of 1 and 6. contract it bv eating the pleasant-tasting chips of peeling tenement walls, painted a generation ago with leaded paint Nationally, an estimated 400.000 children suffer lead-paint poisoning each year. Some 200 children die. Manv others are left with permanent brain damage and retardation 0000-NLI-000020695 IV 2710.01