Courtesy of Brian M. O’Connor, Connecticut House Democratic Office

In Connecticut, 3,483 children have a blood lead level, or BLRV, almost six times greater than 98 percent of kids in the nation. However, due to current statutes in the state, Connecticut has only sent inspectors to two percent of these children’s homes to find and mitigate lead exposure.  

On the heels of his annual State of the State address and presentation of the state budget, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is unveiling plans to both reform the state’s response to childhood lead poisoning while also calling for an increase in funding for improved heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, systems in schools in light of ventilation concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Unveiled on March 3, Lamont’s House Bill 5045, which mirrors actions taken by New Haven since Mayor Justin Elicker took office, aims to change the state’s definition of what triggers a “comprehensive environmental inspection.” These inspections are detailed epidemiological reviews by the state. The new policy is estimated to increase the number of inspections by 4,671 percent and bolster funding to replace water pipes that contribute to lead poisoning. 

“For too long, Connecticut has failed to address the problem of lead poisoning in our children, a problem that impacts most deeply minority families and disadvantaged communities of our state,” Lamont said in a press release. “Thousands of children are not receiving the treatment and health interventions that they need. Connecticut’s standards for lead testing and treatment fall well behind the best practices and the time is now to take action.”

The Governor has modeled the state’s new lead poisoning plan on New Haven’s approach. Currently, all children between the ages of 1–5 in New Haven must have their blood drawn and if their BLRV exceeds 5 mg/dL, the city will investigate, determine and then abate potential sources of lead exposure. 

According to Elicker, the current city’s appropriate BLRV of 5 mg/dL has been in place for years, but the city had reverted to the state’s inspection trigger level of 20 mg/dL until two years ago, when he took office. 

“It’s a very good step in the right direction for Governor Lamont to propose reducing the standard,” Elicker told the News. “I am proud that a new, more rigorous lead inspection and enforcement program that we launched in New Haven has provided a model to expand these critically important protections to every child in the state.”

According to State Commissioner of Health Manisha Juthani’s office, the change in the level at which an investigation is called for comes after new National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data was released, which culminated in an October 2021 recommendation to the CDC that the 97.5th percentile of the BLRV be shifted down from 5 mcg/dL to 3.5 mcg/dL. 

Juthani’s office added that while the CDC and EPA have both stated that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children, the BLRV level “paves the way for early intervention and the prevention of additional exposure and associated harm.” 

According to Juthani’s office, lead exposure even below 10 mg/dL can be associated with behavioral effects, delays in puberty and decreases in hearing, cognitive performance, and postnatal growth or height. BLRV levels as low as 5 mg/dL can have effects including diminished IQ scores and academic achievement, as well as increased behavioral problems and attention-related behaviors.

“House Bill 5045 proactively moves Connecticut toward doing a better job of protecting our children from lead poisoning and being better aligned with national standards,” said Juthani. “The science and understanding of the effects of lead have greatly changed, …[which] has forced us to face the fact that even low levels of exposure can be devastating to children.”

This program is included in Lamont’s fiscal year 2023 budget adjustment and is covered by the American Rescue Plan’s $70 million dollar funding investment in the state to fight lead poisoning. The funding will also help property owners and landlords in vulnerable communities undertake lead abatement and remediation projects. This program will be led by the state’s Department of Public Health in coordination with local health departments and the state Department of Housing. 

Connecticut is also due to receive $150 million to identify and replace lead service lines for drinking water over the next five years through the bipartisan federal infrastructure bill.

The legislation is currently under consideration by the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee, which held a Mar. 7 public hearing on the bill where members of the committee signaled support for the bill. 

Lamont kicks off HVAC project 

On March 1, Lamont proposed legislation for a grant program that will assist public school districts in paying for HVAC and other indoor air quality improvements for schools. 

“One thing the COVID-19 pandemic exposed is that many school buildings in our state, particularly those that are of a certain age, are in serious need of air quality improvements,” Lamont said. “I strongly urge lawmakers to approve this proposal so that we can begin releasing funds to school districts and make these much-needed HVAC upgrades.”

This proposal is also a part of the 2023 fiscal year budget. According to Lamont’s office, the state is receiving $90 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan for this grant program. 

The proposed program, which would be administered by the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services, requires municipalities to provide matching grants to fund the project costs. Lamont has also directed the Department of Administrative Services to develop the proposed program in coordination with the state’s Department of Education, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Department of Public Health.

The Connecticut Council of Municipalities lauded the decision. Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director and CEO, said that the state is stepping in to fill the gaps in upgrades for systems that are in “dire need of repair.” 

“The cost for needed ac repair in schools across the state would overwhelm municipal resources,” said DeLong. “The quality of indoor air in public schools remains critical in good times and bad for the health and safety of our students, teachers and staff.”

The legislation is currently under consideration by the Connecticut General Assembly’s Education Committee.