"The EPA has not revised key hazard standards that protect children from lead poisoning since 2001, despite science showing harms at far lower levels of exposure than previously believed."

"The Environmental Protection Agency has no current plans to revise key hazard standards that protect children from lead poisoning, despite calls for action from the agency's scientific advisers.

The result is that children will continue to be exposed to lead particles in house dust and yards at levels that can cause reduced intelligence, attention disorders and other health problems because the EPA's standards — set in 2001 — give a false sense of safety, scientists and child health advocates said.

"It's outrageous we aren't acting on what we know," said Howard Mielke, a soil contamination expert at Tulane University's medical school. Mielke served on an EPA lead advisory panel that gave input on revising the agency's house dust standard for lead more than two years ago. He said the soil standard also is too high to protect kids from harm."

Alison Young reports for USA TODAY March 10, 2013. [2]