During the summer months, mosquitos can become a major nuisance in our area. In order to cut down on the number of mosquitos in your yard, the main thing to do is eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. Here are some tips to help you rid the community of Mosquitos:

1. All mosquitos require standing water in which to breed, so it is important to remove containers that will allow water to pool, like tires, buckets, and barrels. They do not need much water to breed, so even overturned garbage lids and children’s toys can become a mosquito haven.
2. It also helps to turn canoes or boats over and empty any water that collects on tarps or covers or arrange them so that the water will drain off.
3. It is also recommended that you empty your bird bath and pet dishes once a week, and flush water from the bottom of plant holders once or twice a week.
4. Standing water in gutters can also become a problem, so ensure that your gutters are clear.

By following these steps, you can help rid your community of mosquito breeding grounds and enjoy your yard without having to deal with those pesky mosquitos.

An Administrative Regulation is being proposed to establish reservation procedures and requirements, fees, rules, guidelines, and programming priorities for the use of certain public facilities in accordance with Takoma Park Code, Chapter 14.20 Public Space and Public Buildings. The regulation updates and replaces Administrative Regulation 2011-1.

• Review the Proposed Regulation

Pursuant to the requirements of the “Administrative Regulations Ordinance” (Authority: Chapter 2.12 “Administrative Regulations,” of the Takoma Park Code), notice of the City’s intention to adopt an administrative regulation must be publicly noted, allowing residents the opportunity to comment on the proposal. The proposed regulation is available for review at www.takomaparkmd.gov. To obtain further information about the proposed regulation, contact Gregory Clark, Director, Recreation Department, 301-891-7227 or GregoryC@takomaparkmd.gov. Written comments on the proposed regulation may be emailed to Clerk@takomaparkmd.gov. The deadline for receipt of public comments is Friday, June 7, 2024.

Who can get lead poisoning?

Children from 6 months to 6 years old are the main victims of lead poisoning. But anyone who eats, drinks, or breathes something that has too much lead can get lead poisoning.

Lead tends to build up in the body over time. So someone who takes in only small amounts of lead can gradually develop lead poisoning.

A pregnant woman should also know that lead carried in her blood can pass to her unborn child.

How does lead affect health?

A child who consumes a dangerous amount of lead may seem to be well. However, lead can affect the brain, causing learning disabilities and behavior problems. Lead can also affect the blood, kidneys, and other parts of the body.

As lead poisoning becomes serious, some children have stomach aches, loss of appetite, or loss of interest in play. Some children may also become overly active or fussy and irritable.

A blood lead test can help find out if someone has taken in too much lead before there are any outward signs of illness. Ask your doctor or clinic about this test.

What causes lead poisoning?

Lead-based house paint was used in most homes before l950. Lead was still used in some house paints until 1978. Paint on your window frames and on porches is very likely to present a risk for children.

Small children put things in their mouths. They chew on window sills, they eat paint chips, and they suck on their hands. Lead from crumbling paint gets into household dust, and anything that gets dusty (like toys, pets, and fingers) can then become a source of lead poisoning.

Older furniture (cribs, play pens, chairs, etc.) and painted toys may have lead paint.

Old or imported ceramic dishes may be decorated with lead glazes. Food that comes in contact with a lead glaze will pick up some of the lead.

Many children will eat almost anything. Dirt, including soil from flower pots, plaster, ashes, and charcoal all may have lead.

Caution: Only trained workers may remove or work with lead paint. Everyone else, including pets, must keep out of the work area until the job is complete and the area is carefully cleaned. Dust and fumes from lead paint removal can be dangerous.

Food and Lead Poisoning

A well balanced diet contributes to good health in many ways. Foods that are high in calcium, iron, and vitamin C can help protect your children from lead poisoning. Your children should eat less of the foods which are high in fat and oil, since these foods make it easier for the body to absorb lead.

Iron-rich foods

• Liver, kidneys, heart
• Lean meats, eggs
• Beans, peas, lentils
• Prunes, raisins, watermelon
• Spinach and greens
• Enriched cereals (hot or cold)

Calcium-rich foods

• Milk and cheese
• Cottage cheese and yogurt
• Ice milk

Vitamin C-rich foods

• Fruits and fruit juices
• Bell peppers and tomatoes
• Potatoes, sweet potatoes (cooked in skins)
• Broccoli

Foods that should be limited

• Butter, oil, lard, margarine
• Potato chips, corn chips, French fries
• Fried foods (Remove skin from chicken and fat from meats)

To protect against lead dust, be sure that your children wash their hands before eating. Food that falls on the floor should be thrown away.

Making Your Home Lead-Safe

Care of Walls, Windows, and Trim–Maryland regulations do not allow dry scraping, sanding, or burning of lead paint, because these methods create health hazards. Do replace old windows and wood trim that have deteriorated. Do use only safe methods for removing old paint. Carefully contain and dispose of the hazardous debris and dust from lead paint removal.

Dust Control-In older houses, lead from old paint can mix with household dust. Special cleaning will lower this hazard. Clean rugs each week with a vacuum. Damp mop floors with a high-phosphate cleaner, such as automatic dishwashing detergent. Mix one tablespoon of detergent with a gallon of hot water. Dust furniture and other surfaces with a damp cloth and high-phosphate cleaner.

Use of Toys, Furniture, and Containers-Older items, such as a crib or toy, which may have been painted with lead paint should be removed from your home. Metal containers, such as pewter or brass pitchers, may have lead and should not be used for food or beverages. Old or imported ceramic containers or dishes which have been coated with lead glazes should not be used.

Testing for Lead Poisoning

All children between 6 months and 6 years of age should be checked for lead. Many children have blood lead tests as part of their regular care by a doctor or clinic. These tests are very important for children who live, or who spend time, in older buildings which may have lead paint. Be sure to ask your doctor or clinic about testing for your child.

If a test for lead is high, more tests and a doctor’s exam will be necessary. Be sure to follow directions carefully. You can help limit the effects of lead poisoning by getting good medical care for your child and by keeping things which have lead away from your child.

This Earth Month, there are still opportunities for youth and adults alike to give back to our earth and local community.

The Earth Day Celebration- April 20

We are seeking volunteers to support a few of our upcoming events, including the Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 20th! Student Service Learning (SSL) sign-offs for students are available, and volunteers get a free t-shirt!

• When: Saturday, April 20, 2024 10am-2pm
• Where: Sligo Creek Steam Valley Park (Houston and Kennebec Ave)

Learn more and register on the Sustainable Takoma Park signup form.

I recently received a Courtesy Notice from Code Enforcement alerting me to flaking and peeling paint on my house. Why is this a problem?

This information from the Environmental Protection Agency might be helpful:

Older Homes and Buildings

If your home was built before 1978, it is more likely to have lead-based paint. In 1978, the federal government banned consumer use of lead-based paint, but some states banned it even earlier.

Lead-based paint is still present in millions of homes, normally under layers of newer paint. If the paint is in good shape, the lead-based paint is usually not a problem. Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged, or damp) is a hazard and needs immediate attention.

Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear, such as:

• Windows and window sills;
• Doors and door frames; and
• Stairs, railings, banisters, and porches.

A few tips to reduce sources of lead exposure in older homes and buildings:

• Inspect and keep all painted surfaces in excellent shape and clean up dust frequently with a wet cloth or paper towel.
• Consult a certified lead professional before beginning renovation, repair or painting projects. Renovation, repair or painting activities can create toxic lead dust when painted surfaces are disturbed or demolished.
• Avoid tracking lead dust into the home by wiping and removing shoes before entering the home and placing dust mats both inside and outside of entryways.
• Learn if you have a lead service line. Contact your water utility or a licensed plumber to determine if the pipe that connects your home to the water main (called a service line) is made from lead.

Soil, Yards and Playgrounds

Soil, yards and playgrounds can become contaminated when exterior lead-based paint from houses or buildings flakes or peels and gets into the soil. Soil may also be contaminated from past use of leaded gasoline in cars, from industrial sources, or even from contaminated sites, including former lead smelters. Lead is also naturally occurring and it can be found in high concentrations in some areas.

Lead in soil can be ingested as a result of hand-to-mouth activity that is common for young children and from eating vegetables that may have taken up lead from soil in the garden. Lead in soil may also be inhaled if resuspended in the air or tracked into your house thereby spreading the contamination.

Older playground equipment can still contain old lead-based paint, and artificial turf and playground surfaces made from shredded rubber can contain lead. Take precautions to ensure young children do not eat shredded rubber or put their hands in their mouth before washing them.

To reduce exposures to lead from soils, yards and playgrounds:

• Check the exterior of your home, including porches and fences, for flaking or deteriorating lead-based paint that may contaminate soil in your yard or be tracked into your house.
• Put doormats outside and inside all entryways and remove your shoes before entering to avoid tracking contaminated soil into your house.
• Wash hands several times a day using soap and water, especially after playing or working outside.
• Plant bushes close to the house to keep children from playing in soil near your home.

In addition to the lead-based paint concerns, please remember that paint is a protective coating. Without it, wood can rot and metal can rust. Rotted wood and rusted metal can cause structural safety issues.

Learn more about Code Enforcement Initiatives on the City webpage.