- Lead poisoned children are likely to suffer life-long consequences. Even a small amount of lead can have a negative effect on a child’s development.
- Learn more about Lead Safe Certification for Contractors.
- Keeping your home clean will help you reduce your exposure to lead in paint, dust, and soil.
- Lead poisoning can be prevented – as long as landlords and tenants know how to reduce or eliminate exposure to lead dust and deteriorated lead paint and what danger signs to look for.
- All tenants have a right to safe, healthy, and clean housing. Landlords are required to correct known lead hazards on their properties and follow lead safe work practices for repairs.
Lead poisoning is entirely preventable. However, over half a million U.S. children have blood lead levels high enough to damage their health. Evidence shows that the most common source of lead exposure for children today is lead paint in older housing and the contaminated dust and soil it generates.
New England states have some of the oldest housing in the United States with over a third of New England housing built before 1950, where deteriorating lead-based paint is most likely to exist. Although lead poisoning can cause serious health problems, especially in children younger than six years old, it is preventable.
The NELCC is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1 and is administered by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. the website contents are the sole responsibility of the authors.