Section 124150.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the activities conducted by the department pursuant to Section 124130 have confirmed and supported the findings specified in Section 124125 and, in addition, have resulted in the following findings:

(a) Very few children are currently tested for elevated blood lead levels in California. The lead registry established pursuant to Section 124130 has been effective at identifying incidents of occupational lead poisoning; however, because childhood lead screening is not now required in California, the registry is unable to serve as the exclusive mechanism to identify children with elevated blood lead levels. Additional blood lead screening needs to be done to identify children at high risk of lead poisoning.

(b) Based on emerging information about the severe deleterious effects of low levels of lead on children's health, the lead danger level is expected to be lowered from 25 to 15 micrograms of lead per deciliter of human blood.

(c) Lead poisoning poses a serious health threat for significant numbers of California children. Based on lead registry reports and targeted screening results, the department has estimated that tens of thousands of California children may be suffering from blood lead levels greater than the danger level.

(d) The implications of lead exposure to children and pregnant women from lead brought home on the clothing of workers is unknown, but may be significant.

(e) Levels of lead found in soil and paint around and on housing constitute a health hazard to children living in the housing. No regulations currently exist to limit allowable levels of lead in paint surfaces in California housing.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 193, Sec. 127. Effective January 1, 2005.)