Governor Signs Executive Order to Launch Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Plan

Hagåtña, Guam - On Tuesday, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed Executive Order 2025-04, establishing the Comprehensive Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Plan (CCLPPP) to protect Guam's children from the harmful effects of lead exposure. The Executive Order is a direct response to environmental concerns raised after Typhoon Mawar, which made landfall in May 2023 and damaged many older structures that may have contained lead-based paint. Lead exposure, particularly among children under six, can cause long-term developmental delays, behavioral disorders, and learning difficulties.

Under the order, the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) is directed to:

• Develop a comprehensive Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Plan;
• Establish routine blood lead testing and follow-up protocols to ensure the proper management of cases;
• Require the reporting of blood lead levels as a key data point to enhance tracking and prevention efforts across the community.

"With all the advances in science, technology, and public health, we now have more tools than ever to detect, prevent, and respond to lead exposure," said Governor Leon Guerrero. "But tools alone aren't enough. We must use them wisely, act with urgency, and prioritize the health of our children above all else. Lead poisoning is entirely preventable, and every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment, free from the dangers of toxic exposure."

"One of the hard truths we face is that Guam continues to experience poor health outcomes across the board. The role of public health is to change that-to reduce preventable illness by addressing environmental risks, promoting better nutrition, expanding early access to care, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to live a healthier life. Chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes continue to weigh heavily on our families, and it's a burden we all share. As leaders, educators, and health professionals, we have a shared responsibility to act, and this executive order gives us a clear path forward," added Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio.

"Lead exposure remains one of the most preventable environmental health threats to our children, and we know that no amount of lead is safe in the human body. Even small amounts can cause irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system, leading to learning disabilities, developmental delays, and behavioral challenges. The impact of childhood lead poisoning can last a lifetime, and it affects those who are already the most vulnerable in our community," said DPHSS Director Therese Arriola.

The plan will serve as a foundational tool to guide all government agencies in preventing future cases of lead exposure and mitigating any potential exposure that may have already occurred.

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