Children’s Environmental Health Promotion Program

Since 1992, the Childhood Lead Prevention Program works in partnership with community and city agencies, landlords, and families to advocate for lead-safe homes. The asthma project reaches children and families most affected by asthma and enables them to maintain a healthy environment.

Accomplishments, Future Directions, and Challenges:

• CEHP implemented a citywide initiative to prevent consumption of lead contaminated Mexican candies.
• CEHP updated San Francisco Building Code 3407 to regulate safe work practices in rental property interiors.
• In 2005, EH will be working with DBI’s Housing Inspection unit, the SRO task force, and other tenant advocacy groups to ensure better code compliance for housing standards for families living in residential hotels.

Announcements:

Lead in Mexican Candies

Working with Communities for Policy Change State and Federal warnings advise consumers that some candy products from Mexico are contaminated with lead. However, responsible agencies have not successfully prevented the import and sale of these candies. In 2005, CEHP conducted a survey of community consumption of lead in Mexican Candy and published findings in a special newsletter. CEHP also Identified 7 San Francisco lead poisoning cases thus far where lead candy might have been a contributing source. Based on this data we developed a targeted community outreach strategy including a media campaign in Spanish language papers, radio, and television. We made community presentation to schools with Latino students and educated medical providers. Based on surveillance of 414 retailers we identified where the contaminated candy was sold and notified retailers about the potential hazards. Following these efforts, we drafted a resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors encouraging swifter DPH and federal and state agency actions. As a result of this initiative, sixty one stores removed the candy—a 57% decline.

May 15 - State Health Department Warns Consumers not to Eat Three brands of Lead-Contaminated Candy from Mexico (pdf)

 

Click here for Spanish Version