Updated: June 1, 2022
Tamara Rubin is an internationally-recognized, multiple-Federal-award winning Lead-poisoning prevention advocate; documentary filmmaker; and mother of four sons (ages 25, 19, 17 and 13). She took on the cause of childhood Lead-poisoning (and consumer goods safety advocacy) after her own sons were poisoned by the work of a painting contractor in 2005. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her family.
Website
Tamara has created a strong web and media presence for the cause of childhood Lead-poisoning prevention [with over 1,000,000 unique visitors (from over 200 countries!) to this website each year – per Google Analytics) — in an effort to bring this message to the world: Lead-poisoning was not “solved” with the 1978 ban on Lead in residential paint; more than 1 in 3 children in America (and worldwide) today has had an unsafe level of Lead in their blood. There are currently more than 3,300 articles and pages with information about childhood Lead poisoning and consumer goods toxicant test results here on this website. You can follow her work “@LeadSafeMama” on all of the various social media channels.
Goal
Tamara is committed to educating every parent about this wholly-preventable environmental illness that causes permanent brain damage in young children and yet – still today – (conservatively) costs the United States more than $50.9 Billion annually! Through her advocacy work and consulting, Tamara has personally helped thousands of families create safer homes and environments for their children, and continues to personally help families every day.
Awards
Tamara has won several awards for her advocacy work, including two from the Federal government – when her work was honored by a consortium of Federal agencies (EPA, CDC, USDA, HUD, and USDoE) at the National Healthy Homes Conferences in both 2011, and 2014.
Notable Media Coverage
Starting with a USA Today article in 2007 and Today Show interview in 2008, Tamara’s work has been covered by CBS; NBC; FOX; CNN; and ABC – in both national and local television news stories. Since her first public speaking engagement in 2007, Tamara has been interviewed for (or quoted in) articles (and video segments) in The New York Times; The Huffington Post; Mother Jones; Truthout; The New York Post; USA Today; Vice; Al Jazeera English; Better Homes and Gardens Australia; Parents Magazine; and many others. In 2017, “CBS This Morning” covered her findings of unsafe levels of Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys. For more press coverage (with specific links), click here.