Lead Based Paint

WASHINGTON -- Ambitious federal plans for combating childhood lead poisoning are under attack from lawmakers, environmentalists and health advocates because the Bush administration intends to spend only a fraction of what it says is needed to deal with the problem.Health and Human Services Secretary Louis W. Sullivan unveiled a 5-year "strategic plan" yesterday aimed at eliminating lead poisoning, which he called the "No. 1 environmental hazard facing our children."The plan, which officials estimate will cost nearly $1 billion, calls for expanded screening of children, removing deteriorating lead-based paint from older homes and apartments, and reducing other exposures to the toxic metal.

A city task force that made controversial recommendations for curbing lead poisoning among Baltimore's children has been asked to come up with a new report, focusing this time on finding cheaper ways of removing toxic, lead-based paint from low-income housing.The 31-member panel, which met yesterday for the first time since last spring, was told by city health officials that many of the proposals it had made for stimulating more lead-paint abatement among landlords and homeowners were unrealistic, given tight budgets in city, state and federal governments.

Young children risk lead poisoning in about 3.8 million U.S. homes that contain peeling lead-based paint or high levels of hazardous lead-paint dust, according to a new national survey.In a report prepared for Congress, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Jack Kemp gives the highest estimate yet of the number of American homes contaminated by lead-based paint, and he outlines a national plan to fight lead poisoning in privately owned housing.The plan, requested by Congress three years ago, proposes offering financial assistance to lower-income families with children living in homes where lead-based paint is a health hazard.