On Feb. 2, I had the pleasure of serving as a medical testimony on the Minnesota House of Representatives floor for Bill 92. Rep. Sydney Jordan (DFL-Minneapolis) proposed the bill, which would lower the threshold for the concentration of lead in the blood necessary to notify the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Currently, Minnesota follows a 10 microgram/deciliter blood lead level threshold for this trigger. While this was at one time appropriate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently follows a reference value of 3.5 micrograms/deciliter. Bill 92 would bring Minnesota’s level down to 3.5.
Why is this relevant? So what if Minnesota’s threshold for this random metal, which most of us don’t think about, is a few numbers higher or lower? The reason is that lead, at any concentration, is harmful. Lead can cause a variety of cancers, kidney damage and even reduce fertility, and that’s just for adults.
Children are particularly at risk for lead exposure. Lead is neurotoxic! This means that as kids exposed to lead grow, their brain growth lags. They can have hearing and speaking problems, an inability to pay attention in school and at home and worst of all, a lower IQ (there is much more, but I have a word count).
What Bill 92 would specifically do is mobilize MDH to intervene in a situation where children have suspiciously high lead levels, earlier. MDH is great about contacting the child’s home, doing an analysis of the likely lead exposure sources and educating the family about what is happening in their residence that could literally be stunting their child’s growth. If need be, they can make further interventions.
Before my testimony, MDH Assistant Commissioner Dan Huff gave a beautiful, 15-minute talk about the dangers of lead, where it can be found, previous efforts and a moving personal anecdote about why all of this matters. I mention this to say that MDH really cares about this issue and is in full support of this measure to improve the public health of the Gopher State.
Bill 92 was originally presented in early 2022 and was voted forward by the House. Unfortunately, the Senate did not vote on it, and since we (rightfully) have a bicameral legislature here, it did not become law. As a medical voice, I am in full support of Jordan and Huff and the important work they do. This bill is one of the most cost-effective measures to improve the health of our children (and adults).
It passed the House this year, but I don’t want it to suffer the same fate again in the Senate. I’m not asking anyone to picket at the St. Paul Capitol building, but I think everyone reading this ought to know there is something major at stake here. We are already behind the federal standard the CDC recommends, which is backed by some of the best public health research you could expect, and we only stand to lose more and gain nothing by not passing Bill 92.
Consider this a public plea to Minnesota’s lawmakers. Please listen to the science and the countless stories of lives compromised. Bill 92 shouldn’t be a privilege; it’s the most important law you COULD pass this year.
Dominik Dabrowski is a student at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and an Occupational Medicine Physician at HealthPartners.
