----- Original Message ----- 
From: Chase, Rep. Maralyn 
To: 'Jathan Kron' 
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 11:07
Subject: RE: [UBE-01] - Lead Wheel Weight Facts 

Dear Jathan:  Rep. Maralyn Chase from the Washington State House 
of Representatives thought you and your class might be interested 
in the HB 1033 which was passed this session.   Among other things, 
Rep. Chase is a member of the Environmental Health Committee.   
She is very appreciative of your thoughtful leadership and education 
on this issue.



 Sincerely,

Marylyn Hawkins
Legislative Aide
Representative Maralyn Chase
32d Legislative District
hawkins_ma@leg.wa.gov
206-366-2604 (District Office)
360-786-7880 (Olympia Office) 

From: Jathan Kron [mailto:Kron.Jathan@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 3:35 AM
To: Alexander, Rep. Gary; Anderson, Rep. Glenn; Angel, 
Rep. Jan; Appleton, Rep. Sherry; Armstrong, Rep. Mike; Bailey, 
Rep. Barbara; Blake, Rep. Brian; Campbell, Rep. Tom; Carlyle, 
Rep. Reuven; Chandler, Rep. Bruce; Chase, Rep. Maralyn; Chopp, 
Speaker Frank; Clibborn, Rep. Judy; Cody, Rep. Eileen; Condotta, 
Rep. Cary; Conway, Rep. Steve; Cox, Rep. Don; Crouse, 
Rep. Larry; Dammeier, Rep. Bruce; Darneille, Rep. Jeannie; DeBolt, 
Rep. Richard; Dickerson, Rep. Mary Lou; Driscoll, Rep. John; Dunshee, 
Rep. Hans; Eddy, Rep. Deborah; Ericks, Rep. Mark; Ericksen, 
Rep. Doug; Finn, Rep. Fred; Flannigan, Rep. Dennis; Goodman, 
Rep. Roger; Grant-Herriot, Rep. Laura; Green, Rep. Tami; Haigh, 
Rep. Kathy; Haler, Rep. Larry; Hasegawa, Rep. Bob; Herrera, 
Rep. Jaime; Hinkle, Rep. Bill; Hope, Rep. Mike; Hunt, 
Rep. Sam; Hunter, Rep. Ross; Hurst, Rep. Christopher; Jacks, 
Rep. Jim; Johnson, Rep. Norm; Kagi, Rep. Ruth; Kelley, 
Rep. Troy; Kenney, Rep. Phyllis; Kessler, Rep. Lynn; Kirby, 
Rep. Steve; Klippert, Rep. Brad; Kretz, Rep. Joel; Kristiansen, 
Rep. Dan; Liias, Rep. Marko; Linville, Rep. Kelli; Maxwell, 
Rep. Marcie; McCoy, Rep. John; McCune, Rep. Jim; Miloscia, 
Rep. Mark; Moeller, Rep. Jim; Morrell, Rep. Dawn; Morris, 
Rep. Jeff; Nelson, Rep. Sharon; O'Brien, Rep. Al; Orcutt, 
Rep. Ed; Ormsby, Rep. Timm; Orwall, Rep. Tina; Parker, 
Rep. Kevin; Pearson, Rep. Kirk; Pedersen, Rep. Jamie; Pettigrew, 
Rep. Eric; Priest, Rep. Skip; Probst, 
Rep. Tim; quall.da ve@leg.wa.gov; Roach, Rep. Dan; Roberts, 
Rep. Mary Helen; Rodne, Rep. Jay; Rolfes, Rep. Christine; Ross, 
Rep. Charles; Santos, Rep. Sharon Tomiko; Schmick, Rep. Joe; Seaquist, 
Rep. Larry; Sells, Rep. Mike; Shea, Rep. Matt; Short, 
Rep. Shelly; Simpson, Rep. Geoff; Smith, Rep. Norma; Springer, 
Rep. Larry; Sullivan, Rep. Pat; Takko, Rep. Dean; Taylor, 
Rep. David; Upthegrove, Rep. Dave; Van De Wege, Rep. Kevin; Wallace, 
Rep. Deb; Walsh, Rep. Maureen; White, Rep. Scott; Williams, 
Rep. Brendan; Wood, Rep. Alex
Cc: Bill Kron; Lieutenant Governor
Subject: [UBE-01] - Lead Wheel Weight Facts

Hello Washington Legislators,

           Our West Branch Iowa Middle School 7th grade Science 
Research Science Team has spent the last 8 months researching and 
testing the hazards of lead wheel weights. The Lead Wheel Weight 
testing assistance given to our science team by the University of 
Iowa Hygienic Lab produced credible, astonishing and eye opening 
results concerning the major hazards of lead wheel weights.
We have presented our results to our local community and the Iowa 
State Legislature and initiated several Iowa House Bills. Most 
people who have taken the time to visit our science research 
team website http://www.leadzero.org and carefully review our 
results have praised our scientific investigation and testing 
of lead wheel weights under environmentally simulated conditions. 
Our science team applauds the Washington State Policy Makers for 
sponsoring an environmentally friendly Lead Wheel Weight bill.
Best regards,
Lead Wheel Weights Science Research Team "Dead Weight"
Jathan Kron, 7th grade
West Branch Schools

http://www.leadzero.org


Published April 16, 2009 
Senate approves ban on lead tire weights
BY RICHARD ROESLER 


Those little lead weights clipped onto your tires soon may go 
the way of lead type, lead toy soldiers and lead paint.

Washington’s state Senate on Tuesday voted to ban the installation 
of lead tire weights by 2011. Tire dealers will be required to use 
alternatives like zinc or a steel alloy.

The amended bill now goes back to the House, which is expected to 
approve it. It then goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire to be signed into law.

“The Asian and European car makers have used alternative wheel weights
for years now,” said Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, the prime sponsor of 
House Bill 1033. “We are just catching up to them.”

Lead is highly toxic, Campbell says, and it only makes sense to use 
less hazardous alternatives. It has been linked to brain damage and 
other nervous system damage, particularly in young children.

The weights, which have long been used to balance tires and prevent 
shimmying at high speeds, can come loose and be flung by the roadside. 
The state Department of Ecology estimates that 5 percent of wheel 
weights come loose. That would mean that vehicle wheels are dropping 
20 tons of lead on roadways and parking lots each year.

Worsening matters, Campbell says, the weights can be pulverized by 
passing cars, making it even easier for the soft metal to leach into 
rain runoff and soil.

Eighteen lawmakers, mostly Republicans, voted no.

 Honeyford.Jim@leg.wa.gov

Some tire dealers already are phasing out lead weights. Les Schwab 
announced last summer that it was switching to steel weights at all 
400-plus shops in eight states, including Washington and Idaho. 
As part of a legal settlement in a case brought by environmental 
groups, several major manufacturers have agreed to stop using lead 
weights in California by the end of this year.

Campbell’s bill would apply to weights installed on new tires or 
changed during routine tire maintenance. Businesses, rather than 
vehicle owners, will be responsible for replacing the old weights 
with safer equivalents. There are exceptions for large diameter tires 
and vehicles with gross weights of more than 14,000 pounds.

Tire businesses that illegally install lead weights could be fined up 
to $500.



PLEASE WAIT 30 SECONDS
TO DOWNLOAD THIS LARGE VIDEO FILE. 

Science research team "Dead Weight" recognizes the 
need to protect the public from exposure to lead hazards. 
There are no federal regulatory controls governing use of lead 
wheel weights. Environmental health hazards associated with lead 
wheel weights are a preventable problem. People are exposed to 
lead fragments and dust when lead wheel weights fall from motor 
vehicles onto the nation's roadways and are then abraded and 
pulverized by traffic. Lead wheel weights on and alongside roadways 
can contribute to soil, surface and groundwater contamination and 
pose hazards to downstream aquatic life.
       Lead negatively affects every bodily system. While it is 
injurious to people of all ages, lead is especially harmful to 
fetuses,children, and adults of childbearing age. Effects of lead 
on a child's cognitive, behavioral, and developmental abilities may 
necessitate large expenditures of public funds for health care and 
special education. Irreversible damage to children and subsequent 
expenditures could be avoided if exposure to lead is reduced.