Oregon day cares miss reporting deadline for lead in water

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Nearly 1,300 day cares in Oregon have missed a deadline to submit drinking water test results to state officials to make sure children aren’t at risk of lead poisoning.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports in a story on Saturday that one in three licensed day cares in Oregon failed to meet the Sept. 30 deadline.

State officials say that of the 2,600 day cares that did turn in test results, 43 found lead above state standards.

Marc Siegel of Oregon’s Office of Child Care says the agency in the coming weeks will make sure every day care gets tested and develops mitigation plans if the water contains too much lead.

The powerful neurotoxin can damage the nervous system of young children.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com