Study aims to bolster California ’s safe-water efforts at child care facilities

Efforts to ensure safe drinking water for children need further support to reach their intended audience, according to an analysis ofCalifornia ’s mandaterequiring child care facilities to test their water for lead, known as AB 2370.Thefindingfrom the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation is part of anew report andpolicy briefthat examine strategiesfor developing and implementing the state ’s testing and remediation program for those sites.Among its recommendations,the report stresses the need for a dedicated funding streamto ensure the program ’s success.“We’ve learned from a similar program in California’s schools that if robust monitoring and funding doesn’t exist, much of the needed testing and remediation won’t be implemented,” said Gregory Pierce, associate director of thecenter and lead author of the study.In order to be successful, Pierce predicts, the program will requirefive to 10times more funding than the $5 millioncurrently budgeted by the state.Lead exposure poses an acute threat to young children and their families.Even low-level exposurehas been connected to loss in IQ, hearing impairments and learning disabilities. Recognizing this threat, California passed Assembly Bill 2370 in 2018,which mandates thetesting of drinking water for leadatlicensed child care facilities built before 2010. These sites must complete the tests before 2023and, if elevated levels are found, remedy the problem or find alternative sources of water.AB 2370 represents a me...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news