Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized stronger requirements for identifying and cleaning up lead paint dust in pre-1978 homes and childcare facilities. EPA estimates that this rule will reduce the lead exposures of up to nearly 1.2 million people every year, of which 178,000 to 326,000 are children under the age of six.

No safe level of lead exposure exists. Children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of lead exposure, which can cause irreversible and life-long health effects, including behavioral problems, lower IQ, slowed growth, and more. In adults, exposure can cause increased risk of cardiovascular disease and may cause cancer.

The stronger standards deliver on the Biden-Harris administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, released in 2021. The final rule reduces the level of lead in dust that EPA considers hazardous to any reportable level measured by an EPA-recognized laboratory. The rule also lowers the amount of lead that can remain in dust on floors, window sills, and window troughs after a lead paint abatement occurs, the lowest levels that can be reliably and quickly measured in laboratories. This action will result in significant reductions in exposures when compared to prior standards. These levels reflect standards implemented by New York City in 2021.

“We can all breathe a little easier now that the EPA has significantly lowered its dust lead standard to protect children,” said Peggy Shepard, Environmental Justice co-founder and WE ACT executive director. “For decades, the academic and advocacy communities have understood that there is no safe level of lead in a child’s blood. I am a New Yorker whose state leads the nation in cases of children with elevated blood levels. I am an environmental justice leader based in Harlem where studies show that Black children living below the poverty line are twice as likely to suffer from lead poisoning as poor white children. I applaud EPA’s action to address this deadly challenge for our children and families.”

Earlier this month, EPA issued a final rule requiring drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years. EPA also announced US$2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding, which is available to support lead pipe replacement and inventory projects.

A new study has revealed the states where you’re most likely to be struck by lightning, with Wyoming taking the top spot. 

New Jersey gambling experts at PlayNJ.com analyzed data from the Vaisala Xweather annual lightning report to find the total number of lightning strikes per state last year. This figure was weighed against the state population to calculate the number of strikes per 1,000 residents. The states with the most lightning strikes per 1,000 residents determined the ranking. 

Wyoming ranked as the state where you’re most likely to be struck by lightning, with 6,936 strikes per 1,000 residents. The state recorded a total of 4,000,843 lightning strikes in 2023, with a density of 15.8 strikes per square kilometer. 

South Dakota comes in second, with 5,763 lightning strikes per 1,000 residents. South Dakota recorded a total of 5,109,756 strikes during 2023, with a lightning density of 25.6 strikes per square kilometer. 

Third in the ranking is Montana, with 4,520 lightning strikes per 1,000 residents, with a total of 4,900,756 lightning strikes during this period. In 2023, Montana recorded a lightning density of 12.9 strikes per square kilometer.  

Mississippi ranks fourth, with 4,407 lightning strikes per 1,000 residents. The state recorded a total of 13,049,233 lightning strikes in 2023, with a density of 104 strikes per square kilometer—the second highest in America after Florida with a density of 112.6 per square kilometer. 

Nebraska comes in fifth, with 4,180 lightning strikes per 1,000 residents. Nebraska recorded a total of 8,198,978 strikes during 2023, with a lightning density of 40.9 strikes per square kilometer. 

Rounding out the top 10 are Arkansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Kansas, and Louisiana.

Hawaii has the lowest rate of lightning strikes, with just seven per 1,000 residents. Hawaii recorded a total of 10,771 strikes during 2023, with a lightning density of 0.6 strikes per square kilometer.

“Lightning strikes may seem like a rare occurrence, but they remain a constant natural hazard across the world,” said Tristan Kay, PlayNJ.com head of casino. “Areas with frequent thunderstorms see higher risks of lightning strikes and residents should remain cautious if they venture out into rough weather. Staying safe means being aware: Avoid open fields, water, and tall objects like trees. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning.”