New Recommendations on Lead Hazards in Private Housing

New Recommendations on Lead Hazards in Private Housing

Childhood lead poisoning from contaminated paint, dust, water, or soil is a significant, but preventable health problem. An estimated 1.7 million children--disproportionately from low-income families living in central cities--have blood lead levels at or above the Centers for Disease Control "level of concern." Although lead was banned from the manufacture of gasoline, food cans, and paint in the 1970s, the more difficult task of removing lead paint hazards from an estimated 5-15 million contaminated older homes and apartments has barely begun. Putting the Pieces Together: Controlling Lead Hazards in the Nation's Housing, the final report of the congressionally mandated Task Force on Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction and Financing, offers a series of important recommendations for advancing the private housing system's efforts to eliminate this danger to the Nation's children.

Although progress has been made over the past 15 years in reducing the incidence of lead poisoning, many parents, property owners, local officials, and others across the country remain ill-informed about the sources of residential lead hazards or how to control them. The Task Force has concluded that immediate change is needed in almost every aspect of the Nation's approach to reducing lead-based paint hazards. Significant recommendations include:

Incorporating effective and enforceable hazard control standards into State laws and regulations nationwide to make the responsibilities of property owners clearer.

Targeting lead abatement assistance to economically distressed housing, which is where lead hazards tend to be concentrated.

Expanding the private supply of financing for lead-based paint hazard control by altering underwriting criteria and other methods.

Changing the liability and the insurance systems so that property owners have incentives to undertake prevention activities and victims of lead poisoning are compensated.

Expanding the scope of public education on lead hazards and increasing research on cost-effective methods for evaluating and controlling them.

Using strategies that match uncontaminated housing to families with young children.

According to the Task Force, swift and comprehensive implementation of these recommendations can dramatically lower the personal and social costs of lead poisoning. The executive summary and final report of Putting the Pieces Together: Controlling Lead Hazards in the Nation's Housing are now available from HUD USER for $4 each. Please contact HUD USER to obtain print copies.