Reuters: Four U.S. senators on Friday urged the Army to detail the steps it is taking to safeguard children from lead poisoning, citing a Reuters investigation into hazards on military bases. “We write to you today concerned about recent reports of lead poisoning at a number of Army installations,” the senators wrote. “The health and safety of our servicemembers and their families are of the utmost importance.” The letter, written by Democratic Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia, along with Republican Senators David Perdue and Johnny Isakson of Georgia, came a day after Reuters reported that more than 1,000 young children tested at military clinics had elevated lead levels between 2011 and 2016.
The Reuters investigation also found that several military bases had not been reporting children’s blood test results to state health departments, violating state laws and creating public health blind spots. The Army said those test results are now being reported. ( here )
The lawmakers requested a detailed briefing on the Army’s strategy to keep military families safe and proposals for potential action from Congress.
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