(KTAL/KMSS) – Louisiana will receive $352,000 in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency through a grant from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.

A news release from the EPA said the 55 states and U.S. territories, including the District of Columbia, will benefit from a grant to reduce lead exposure where children learn and play.

Lead can harm children’s mental and physical development, slow learning outcomes, and irreversibly damage the brain. Adults who are exposed to high lead levels can experience issues with increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function, and cancer.

The grant, authorized by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, is for lead testing and remediation in schools and childcare facilities. Over $150 million has been provided to conduct tests and remove lead sources in school and daycare facility water in the U.S. since 2019.