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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 9, 1998 Page 4 • 1 Marks thanked the Commissioner for his work on the Light Rail System and offered the best of 2 wishes for implementation. 3 Stenglien noted that the first phase of the Light Rail Transit would be the most difficult as it will 4 require building of all the maintenance sheds, etc. This is a 40 month project and he personally 5 is looking forward to it. 6 VII. REPORTS. 7 A. Report on Lead Contamination- Jane Hennessy. 8 Jane Hennessy stated she lives on 29"Avenue NE and is a graduate student in Nursing and 9 Public Health from the University of Minnesota. She explained that lead is eleven times heavier 10 than water and the death of one of every nine children is due to lead poisoning. Americans have 11 used lead in gasoline to make cars runs smoother, water pipes to make them more flexible and in 12 paint to make it last longer. Lead was not removed from paint until 1978. Exterior house paint 13 which is scraped and dropped contaminates the soil near a home. 14 Children are poisoned by eating lead paint dust and chips from their hands, toys and chewing 15 surfaces and from breathing in lead dust. Lead is absorbed by the red blood cells and moves 16 through the body entering the soft tissue and then entering the bones for long-term storage of up 17 to.30 years. A lead-poisoned pregnant woman could contaminate her fetus. 18 There are few clinical signs of lead poisoning. The only way to determine the poisoning is with 19 a venous puncture. If it registers 10 micrograms per deciliter it is considered positive. 20 Ms. Hennessy asked that the City publish an informational article in the newsletter which could 21 feature the telephone number of the Minnesota Health Department, how to obtain information on 22 lead, and how to perform safe home remodeling. She also requested that the City sponsor 23 educational activities,possibly seminars on lead-safe remodeling. 24 Mayor Ranallo asked Ms. Hennessy to submit an article to the City for inclusion in the next 25 newsletter. 26 Faust suggested Ms. Hennessy contact Kathy Knapp of Community Services in-regard to a class 27 or seminar. This may be a better means of getting class information to the public. 28 Thuesen asked at what age it is not as dangerous to do remodeling in a home which contains lead 29 paint. 30 Ms. Hennessy stated children-ages six and under are at the highest risk. A child's nutrition level 31 is also a factor. 32 Cavanaugh asked Ms. Hennessy if she included asbestos education in her work. •