ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 26, 2010) – First Lady Katie O’Malley tomorrow will join the Maryland Department of the Environment, Baltimore City Health officials, and representatives from the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to release the annual lead poisoning report. More Maryland children were tested last year for lead poisoning and fewer were poisoned by lead than in any year since figures have been collected, the report shows.

According to MDE’s annual statewide Childhood Lead Registry, the percentage of tested children with elevated blood levels dropped to one half of one percent statewide. The statistics show a decrease of nearly 98 percent in the percentage of children reported to have blood poisoning since 1993, the year before Maryland’s Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Law went into effect.

The full report will be released at the event tomorrow, which will be held at the home of Deirdre Young Randall, who resides in a 1936 row home in Baltimore City. The home is part of the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning’s Green and Healthy Housing initiative and has received a full energy audit and weatherization. Through the LEAP program the home received 11 new windows and paint stabilization throughout the house. The Coalition’s contractors are all EPA-certified.

What

First Lady Katie O’Malley, MDE to Announce Results of Lead Poisoning Report

When

Friday, August 27, 12:30 p.m.

Where

Home of Deirdre Young Randall,912 N. Linwood Avenue, Baltimore City, MD

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