Current Trends
Potential Increase Demand for Lead Testing
As a Result of Recent HUD Regulations
A recent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) regulation may increase the demand for lead screening in
state and local health departments. A tenant who had lived in
HUD-supported housing brought suit against HUD as a result of
lead poisoning acquired by a child from leaded paint within the
housing unit. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff. The case
was appealed, and a higher court directed HUD to publish rules
and regulations for the systematic inspection and abatement of
the lead paint hazard in housing owned or supported by HUD. The
rules governing public housing (1) and the regulations for
eliminating lead-based paint hazards in Federal Housing Authority
(FHA) single family and multifamily housing were subsequently
published in the Federal Register (2).
The new policy requires HUD to notify tenants of low-income
public housing projects owned by public housing authorities
(PHAs) (which are supported by HUD) and constructed before 1978
that the property may contain lead-based paint. Tenants must also
be informed of the necessary precautions for avoiding poisoning
from lead-based paint, of the symptoms of and treatment for lead
poisoning, and of the need for blood-lead screening for children
<7 years of age as well as where to go for screening.
If a child's blood lead is elevated (>=25 ug/dl), the tenant is
urged to notify the PHA. In both housing units and child-care
facilities owned and operated by the PHA, all chewable surfaces
and areas where paint is flaking must be tested for leaded paint.
When lead-based paint is found, it is to be removed, and parents
are to be directed to the local public health agency for
laboratory and testing services and for medical follow-up, as
appropriate.
Reported by: Div of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects,
Center for Environmental Health, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: Testing for blood lead requires that blood be
sent to a laboratory qualified to analyze both blood lead and
erythrocyte protoporphyrin. Although many state and local health
departments have ongoing lead screening programs, others,
especially those in the western part of the country, are not
screening children routinely. Children found to have lead
toxicity should be referred for medical follow-up. In addition,
the source of lead should be identified through an environmental
investigation, and the hazard, abated. Otherwise, the child
should be moved into a lead-free environment. This HUD regulation
is likely to increase the demand for blood-lead and erythrocyte
protoporphyrin testing and medical and environmental follow-up.
References
US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lead-based
paint hazard elimination in public and Indian housing. Federal
Register 1986;51 (Aug 1):2777-92.
US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lead-based
paint hazard elimination in certain FHA single family and
multifamily housing programs. Federal Register 1987;52 (Jan
15):1876-96.
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