Maine Lawmaker wants Lead Paint Registry

Dan Frith

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Kudos to Maine's Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings! He is sponsoring a bill that would create a state registry of homes that have been declared lead-free, so that people with children can make sure the home they're buying is safe.

And Speaker Cummings knows something about the effects of lead paint on children....

His son was diagnosed with lead poisoning about a decade ago. Lead poisoning occurs when you absorb too much lead by breathing or swallowing a substance with lead in it, such as food, dust, paint, or water. Too much lead in the body can cause irreversible problems in growth and development in children. Lead in paint has been banned by the federal government for years. However, older homes pose a substantial risk to children.

Cummings' bill would also require safer renovation work practices, expand enforcement and inspection efforts, and ensure funding for lead poisoning prevention until Maine successfully reaches the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning.