EJScreen Indicators Overview – Lead Paint
What is the lead paint indicator?
The “lead paint indicator” is based on the percentage of housing units built before 1960, a proxy for how much lead paint people might be exposed to. EJScreen presents this potential exposure to lead paint using percentile rank, ranging from 0 (lowest) to 100 (highest) with higher scores representing higher potential for exposure.
Why is lead paint important?
- Lead has multiple exposure pathways which can affect human health, especially in children six years old and younger. Health effects, depending on lead levels, are quite numerous and can lead to neurological problems.
- Lead-based paint is one of the most common exposure pathways. Through direct contact with the painted surfaces or through contact with the released particles, lead may adhere to hands and other parts of the residents’ bodies, and people may ingest some portion of the lead. If the painted surfaces are disturbed through renovation or other actions, some lead-based paint particles may be temporarily suspended in the air. Suspended particles may be inhaled or may fall on food and be ingested. Children may ingest some of the lead through hand–mouth actions.
- Children six years old and younger are most susceptible to the effects of lead. Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, hyperactivity, slowed growth, aggressive behavior, hearing problems, and anemia.
How does EJScreen create the lead paint indicator?
- The percentage of older housing units is used as a proxy for potential exposure to lead paint and lead-containing dust that accumulates indoors, in homes, or in other buildings where lead paint was used. EJScreen uses the percentage of housing stock built before 1960 because regulations banning lead-based residential paint in 1978 led to the reduction and finally an end to the use of such paint in housing. The decision for EJScreen to use housing units built before 1960 is based on Jacobs et al., 2002.
- The housing stock data are derived from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year Summary block group-level estimates.
- For technical details on the calculations and source data, visit the EJScreen Technical Documentation.
Moving Forward – What You Can Do
- Stay informed on the latest relevant information and resources on the EPA Lead
- Reduce your (and your children’s) lead exposure:
- The EPA Actions to Reduce Potential Lead Exposure page provides helpful information on preventing lead exposure and lead poisoning, especially in young children.
- Lead inspections and lead risk assessments are useful first steps, which can promote more thoughtful decisions on managing lead-based paint and lead hazards.
- Disclosure of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing. Know your rights before you buy or lease and know your responsibilities before you sell or lease.
- Learn about Lead Laws and Regulations.
- Work with your local leaders to identify lead issues and develop an action plan using the Local Lead Action Plan Guide.
- See what the EPA and others are doing to reduce lead exposure:
- The EPA developed the Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. Communities to advance the EPA’s work to protect the public from lead with an emphasis on high-risk communities.
- The EPA Lead Exposures Page provides an extensive assortment of resources, educational documents, and outreach materials for protecting the public from harmful lead exposures.
- Publications on Data Mapping to Identify High Lead Exposure Risk Locations.
- Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program. The EPA requires that renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, childcare facilities, and preschools built before 1978 be performed by lead-safe certified contractors.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is dedicated to eliminating childhood lead poisoning as a public health problem and supports state and local health departments.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes provides funds to state and local governments to reduce lead-based paint hazards, enforces lead-based paint regulations, provides public outreach and technical assistance, and conducts studies to protect children and their families. HUD’s About Lead-based Paint Page provides tips and resources.
- Attend a Community Lead Awareness Session. The EPA is partnering with communities across the country to host a series of free educational sessions on the dangers of lead and how to reduce and prevent lead exposure.
References
Jacobs, D. E., et al., 2002. The Prevalence of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in U.S. Housing. Environ Health Prospect, 110(10), a599-a606.