Delaware County launches childhood lead-poisoning prevention campaign, municipal ordinances urged

The Delaware County Health Department announced a childhood lead-poisoning prevention education campaign and displayed sample materials to the Board of Health, and a public commenter urged municipalities to adopt or enforce ordinances requiring lead-safety certification for rental properties, daycares and homes sold in their jurisdictions.

Director Laura Warner said the campaign launched last month and includes billboards, posters, giveaways and videos in multiple languages to encourage primary prevention and to communicate practical steps landlords and residents can take. "We're trying to let people know it's doesn't have to be scary. You can do something about this," Warner said.

The department presented campaign slides featuring a child-friendly motif intended to make the subject less intimidating and noted it has education materials available for partners, including multilingual literature. Warner said the department shared the materials with the Maternal Child Health work committee and is distributing videos, including a parent's experience and a short spot featuring a local code official.

During public comment, an attendee who identified himself as a councilman and a local code official from East Yeadon (name not provided) described high local testing numbers and urged municipalities to require a "Lead Safe certificate" for every rental property, daycare and house transfer. He said the ordinance in his municipality requires certification on rental properties, daycares and homes sold and that this requirement "makes us feel safer as a town." The commenter encouraged other municipalities to adopt similar ordinances and directed residents to contact the Delaware County Health Department for more information at the number provided.

Warner noted that building inspections and code enforcement are local responsibilities and said the department is working municipality-by-municipality to develop enforcement mechanisms that can support primary prevention of childhood lead poisoning. She highlighted municipal examples, including East Yeadon, the city of Chester and the borough of Yeadon, as local leaders in taking steps to reduce exposures.

The department said it will continue to distribute materials to partners and to promote prevention resources on its website and at community events. No municipal ordinances were proposed or voted on at the board meeting; the public comment urged local elected officials to take legislative action in their jurisdictions.