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Office of the Governor, March 22, 2005
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the following
recent appointments to the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and
Control Commission:
Carole Ann Beaman, Ph.D., LLP of Detroit, disability services/mental
health coordinator for Project Head Start/Detroit Public Schools. Dr.
Beaman is appointed to represent the general public from a city with a
population of 750,000, or more, for a term expiring July 1, 2007.
Denise O. Chambers of Rochester Hills, county director for the Family
Independence Agency. Ms. Chambers is appointed to represent the Family
Independence Agency for a term expiring July 1, 2007.
Joan R. Dyer of Grand Rapids, program supervisor for the Kent County
Health Department. Ms. Dyer is appointed to represent Get the Lead
Out! for a term expiring July 1, 2007.
Bruce C. Jeffries of Mason, environmental review officer for the
Michigan State House Development Authority (MSHDA). Mr. Jeffries is
appointed to represent MSHDA for a term expiring July 1, 2007.
Robert D. Sills of Lansing, toxicology specialist for the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Mr. Sills is appointed to
represent DEQ for a term expiring July 1, 2007.
Laurel R. Sproul of Bear Lake, maternal child services supervisor for
the Muskegon County Health Department. Ms. Sproul is appointed to
represent local health departments located in counties with
populations of 170,000, but not more than 200,000, for a term expiring
July 1, 2007.
Kimberlydawn Wisdom, M.D., M.S. of Southfield, Surgeon General of
Michigan. Dr. Wisdom is appointed to represent the Michigan Department
of Community Health for a term expiring July 1, 2007. She will also
serve as chairperson of the commission.
"I have tremendous confidence that these individuals will work hard to
protect the citizens of Michigan, especially our young people, from
this deadly toxin," said Granholm. "Their experience and knowledge
will be critical as we work to ensure the health and safety of our
families and children."
Senator Martha Scott, sponsor of the bill, said, "Lead poisoning
remains a very real threat to our young people, particularly our
lower-income minority children in urban areas. As sponsor of the
legislation creating the commission, I am thrilled with the level of
experience and expertise of each of the appointees. I look forward to
working with them in protecting our most vulnerable citizens - our
precious young children."
Lead is a toxin that builds up in the body when it is ingested.
Children often are exposed to lead through cracking and peeling,
lead-based paint in older buildings. Lead-based paints were banned
more than 30 years ago, but many older homes and buildings still have
remnants of the paint on walls or trim. People of any age can be
adversely affected by lead exposure, but young children are especially
vulnerable, because their brains are still developing.
In Michigan, the highest incidences of lead poisoning are in the
counties of Wayne, Kent, Muskegon, Berrien, Calhoun, Kalamazoo,
Genesee, Ingham, Saginaw, and Oakland. Cities of particular concern
are Detroit, where 63 percent of the houses were built prior to 1950,
and Grand Rapids, which has the highest concentration of lead
poisoning in the state.
These appointments are subject to Article V, Section 6 of the Michigan
State Constitution of 1963. The appointments stand confirmed unless
disapproved by the Senate within 60 days.
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