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New Illinois rules aim to help prevent childhood lead poisoning. But will there be money to implement them?

Lead Poisoning

A sign hangs in a window Thursday, April 4, 2013, in Lakewood, Ohio. New rules in Illinois aim to address lead poisoning in children, and advocates are urging the General Assembly to allocate more money to implement the rules.

Illinois lawmakers have approved new rules aimed at identifying more children age 6 and younger with lead poisoning and triggering earlier intervention efforts to locate the source — bringing advocates’ long-fought efforts to eradicate this scourge of childhood development one step closer to fruition.

Now, advocates and health departments are turning to the next critical need: more state funding in order to pull off the ambitious changes. The Illinois Department of Health received about $10 million this fiscal year to send nurses and inspectors into the homes of children who test positive for lead poisoning, and to prepare the department to meet new mandates.

molly.parker@thesouthern.com

618-351-5079

On Twitter: @MollyParkerSI ​

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