NJ Public Advocate, City of Camden, Camden Riversharks host game to “Strike Out Lead Poisoning In Camden”

Dozens of children tested for lead at first-ever Lead Awareness event

CAMDEN – On June 19, dozens of children were tested for lead poisoning during a Camden Riversharks game hosted by the City of Camden, the New Jersey Public Advocate and the Camden County Health Department as part of the city’s Model Lead-Safe City Lead Education and Awareness Night.

Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen joined Camden City Chief Operating Officer Judge Theodore Z. Davis, City Council President Angel Fuentes, Councilman Gilbert "Whip" Wilson and other dignitaries in throwing out the first pitch during the game, which drew hundreds of children and families from the city.

Prior to the game between the Camden Riversharks and the Newark Bears, members of the local healthcare community teamed with the City’s Department of Code Enforcement and the Camden County Health Department to provide free lead testing for children accompanied by an adult.

“The City of Camden is energetically and effectively tackling the problem of childhood lead poisoning head-on. They are a model for the entire state,” said Chen, who signed a Model Lead-Safe City agreement with the city last spring.

Under this agreement, the city pledged to dramatically expand testing of children, passed an ordinance requiring that homes be tested for lead before a certificate of occupancy can be granted and have hosted a series of public events to raise awareness in the community about the dangers of lead poisoning.

“The health, safety and welfare of the children of our city is our number one priority,” said Judge Davis. “I urge every parent to heed the call to get their child tested. We can and we must prevent our children from being sickened, or irreversibly harmed due to an environmental contamination in their homes.”

The lead tests were administered using the LeadCare® II analyzer, from Magellan Biosciences, which provides results in three minutes. After parents were given their child’s blood lead level, a representative from the Camden county health department educated them on the child’s level, the dangers of lead, and ways to prevent and reduce exposure. Free lead dust test kits were also available for families to test their homes. All blood lead levels were reported to the State Department of Health and Senior Services for follow-up action as needed.

The event was co-sponsored by the Camden Riversharks; the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative; Wipe-Out Lead NJ; LeadCare; A Magellan Biosciences Business; Catholic Charities; Dooley House; the Fred Baxter Foundation; and, local healthcare providers. Through the Model City program, the City of Newark provided licensure support that enabled the on-site screening at the stadium.

The City of Camden Public Schools also distributed letters to parents with information about lead poisoning and about the event.  Each letter gave parents an opportunity to return a pledge card and promise to have their child tested. 

In April 2008, Chen unveiled a report that showed that thousands of children in New Jersey are poisoned in their homes every year due to exposure to deteriorating lead-based paint.

Soon after the release of that report, Governor Jon S. Corzine signed an executive order requiring state departments to tighten up their lead poisoning prevention activities and the City of Camden signed an agreement in May of 2008 with the Public Advocate to become the state’s first Model Lead-Safe City. Since then, 12 other cities have signed agreements to become part of the Model Lead-Safe City program.

VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE “STRIKE OUT LEAD POISIONING IN CAMDEN” EVENT 

VIEW CAMDEN MODEL CITY HOME PAGE

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