November 4, 2022 – Friday
Hello friends, fans, followers – all LeadSafeMama.com readers!
This week a Lead Safe Mama reader (one of you!) alerted me to the following volunteer committee position opening (see text and image below.) She suggested that I might make a good addition to the CDC’s Lead Exposure and Prevention Advisory Committee. The deadline to apply is TODAY – November 4, 2022. If you think I would make a good addition to this committee please send a letter of recommendation on my behalf to: LEPAC@cdc.gov – please also cc me at TamaraRubin@mac.com (so that I know you have sent a letter in.) Also if you want to comment on this post with the text of your letter (so others can see what you have written and perhaps get some ideas from that) that would be wonderful – thank you.
If you are very familiar with my work or if I have personally helped your family in some way – I am sure that whatever you have to say would be helpful context for a letter of recommendation. I think the likelihood of the CDC accepting me to this committee is quite low because I have heard that in some circles (public health policy circles within the federal government specifically) my work has been viewed as controversial (in large part because I have been so outspoken and also critical of government agencies – including the CDC specifically – and existing government policies around the issue of childhood Lead poisoning prevention.) I have been challenging the misleading public statements of the CDC informally since before my youngest son was born in 2008 – and formally since my first presentation at the National Healthy Homes Conference in Baltimore in 2008 (which I attended with my newborn in tow!)
I expect the higher ups at the CDC may not want me on the committee because my stand for public health (for Children’s Health) when it comes to Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention does not allow for any compromises for industry – and specifically does not agree with the current CDC / EPA stand of limiting federal standards and regulatory thresholds to “industry achievable limits” when it comes to Lead.
In spite of nearly two decades of a “difference of opinion” with the party line of the CDC – perhaps NOW is a window of opportunity – perhaps now is the time for change, perhaps now my involvement on this committee could actually make a difference and influence public policy actions as they relate directly to the CDC and to other linked agencies (HUD, EPA, CPSC, etc.) I would be willing to give it a try if they accept me, and I promise to “play nice”. If you have worked with me personally you know that I can be quite diplomatic when required! I don’t bite, really!
If you need some ideas of what to write about, here’s the link to my “about” page on this website. In the interest of time, please feel free to keep your letter short and sweet (so that you can get it in by today’s deadline!) I think in my case having MANY short letters of recommendation from the general public at large might likely be more impactful than having long detailed letters of recommendation from a few people.
Thanks for considering this request, thanks for taking the time. While you are working on your letters of recommendation I will be working on a CV (of sorts) and will also post that here as soon as I have a live link.
Some inspiration as a “writing prompt”: Imagine a world where our stand (yours and mine) for protecting Children’s Health actually influenced public policy!
Here’s the notice that the Lead Safe Mama reader shared with me (earlier this week):
The LEPAC is composed of 15 federal and non-Federal experts in the fields associated with lead screening, prevention of lead exposure, and services for individuals and communities affected by exposure. Nominations are being sought for individuals with expertise in the fields of epidemiology, toxicology, mental health, pediatrics, early childhood education, special education, diet and nutrition, and environmental health. We encourage you to apply as there are several vacant positions.
Nominations for membership on the LEPAC must be received no later than November 4. All nominations should be emailed to LEPAC@cdc.gov.
Candidates should submit the following items:
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- Current curriculum vitae
- At least one (non-federal employee) letter of recommendation
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For additional information, please contact Paul Allwood at PAllwood@cdc.gov.
I believe Tamara Rubin would be an excellent choice to participate in your lead advisory council.
Ms Rubin’s testing and website have been an invaluable resource for our family. The site has a particular focus on possible household sources. This turns out to include things made recently or even still sold currently. I would never have realized the safety expectations depended on whether something was _marketed_ to kids rather than whether it was obviously a toy regardless of age.
After our daughter’s positive lead test, her site was more insightful than any other resource about lead exposure in general. I’ve since consulted with a world-leading pediatrician and gone through a minor EPA training. These sources all concur on the facts, but Ms Rubin provided the clearest insight — the clearest framework about what’s important to focus on.
My understanding is that her opinions about what should be allowed are more strict than the current mainstream — even though everyone agrees there’s no safe level of lead exposure. Given that the long history is of safety regulations trending towards safer and safer, I suspect her more stringent position represents the eventual future.
Most of all: there is only value in listening to an advisory committee if they have opinions different than the ones you already have and with each other. Ms Rubin’s perspective is shared by many people, but she’s unique in her singular outreach about and articulation of those perspectives.
Note: Lepaac and lepac are both listed in this post. I’m not sure which is correct, so I submitted to both.
Hello Ben! Thank you for catching that! I fixed it.
Tamara
Please accept my enthusiastic recommendation of Tamara Rubin for the position of non-Federal voting member of LEPAC, the Lead Exposure and Prevention Advisory Committee.
I have known Ms. Rubin since 2015 and have found her to have a deep commitment to educating families about the dangers of childhood lead poisoning. Ms. Rubin, through her personal experience with her own children, has educated herself and learned from many experts about both the mundane and the insidious ways that children may be exposed to lead and the consequences for the child, the family, and the community. She is a tireless advocate for children and families who are concerned with lead poisoning and/or precautions against lead poisoning.
Ms. Rubin regularly updates me via email about her latest efforts to help families ferret out the source of lead in their homes, find appropriate testing or other resources, and identify consumer goods that are inappropriate for young children due to potential heavy metal exposure.
I believe Tamara Rubin would be an excellent addition to LEPAC.
I believe childhood lead poisoning prevention advocate Tamara Rubin would be especially well-suited for a position on the CDC Lead Exposure and Prevention Advisory Committee. She is the mother of lead-poisoned children and knows first-hand the insidious effects of lead and its profound impacts on early childhood (and lifelong) development – thus the grave importance and urgency of preventative action and treatment as early as possible. Since her children were acutely poisoned in 2005, Tamara has been a champion for lead poisoning prevention and has actively helped thousands of families across the country. She is an expert in the field and teaches to doctors and professionals – her most recent speaking engagement was at Stanford earlier this year – with the scope of her advocacy work based on the most current research and studies from the top scientists and doctors in the field. Of note – she was the recipient of the National Healthy Homes Hero Award (2011), presented to her by a consortium of federal agencies, including CDC, EPA, USDA, HUD, etc. Tamara was also a volunteer advisor and committee member for initiatives related to the implementation of the EPA RRP rule. Her recommendations are truly protective of children’s health. If lead poisoning prevention is the goal, Tamara Rubin’s expertise and experience will prove invaluable for achieving this purpose.
I believe all heavy metals should be of concern n not just addressing one. This is just my opinion though based on my own personal chemical sensitivity n my daughters. I would be thrilled if Tamera has this position so we can protect our children n future generations. I believe all things can be made Safe.
So sorry to have missed this! I would’ve submitted a letter for sure. You would be the greatest asset to their Lead Exposure and Prevention Advisory Committee that they’ve ever seen. Imagine the difference you could make. We would ask be better for it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Thank you!