Council passes bill requiring lead testing in elementary schools
CM Treyger cites health risks to young children
New York City’s ancient school buildings are long overdue for testing for lead paint, according to Brooklyn Councilmember Mark Treyger, who pushed for legislation to mandate testing in elementary schools to protect kids from the health hazards of lead exposure.
“No parent should ever send their child to school worried about the possibility of exposure to lead poisoning,” said Treyger, who is the chairperson of the Council’s Education Committee.
The Council unanimously approved a Treyger-sponsored bill on March 13 to mandate testing for lead in all school buildings constructed before 1978 where classes are held for children as young as six years of age. Testing would include elementary schools, pre-schools and nursery schools.