Strict new limits set by EPA on children's exposure to lead paint

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Biden administration is imposing strict new limits on dust from lead-based paint in older homes and child-care facilities.

A final rule announced this week by the Environmental Protection Agency limits lead dust on floors and window sills in pre-1978 residences and child-care facilities to levels so low it cannot be detected.

Paint that contains lead was banned in 1978, but more than 30 million American homes are believed to still contain it, including nearly four million homes where children under the age of 6 live. Lead paint can chip off when it deteriorates or is disturbed, especially during home remodeling or renovation.

The EPA estimates the new rule will reduce the lead exposures of up to 1.2 million people per year, including 178,000 to 326,000 children under age 6.

Lead is a neurotoxin that can irreversibly harm brain development in children, lower IQ, cause behavioral problems, and lead to lifelong health effects. It also affects other organs, including the liver and kidneys.

The new rule, which takes effect early next year, targets levels of lead dust generated by paint. Currently, 10 micrograms per square foot is considered hazardous on floors, and a concentration 10 times that high is considered hazardous on window sills. The new rule brings both of those levels down to no detectable lead.

The proposed rule would lower the permissible lead levels after lead abatement work is completed on properties where lead contamination has been identified. Specifically, these new limits would be five micrograms of lead per square foot on floors and 40 micrograms per square foot on window sills.

Over the years, the U.S. government has been tightening the definition of dangerous lead levels in children's blood, with the most recent update in 2021. However, the EPA's proposed rule, introduced last year, represents a more proactive approach to reducing lead exposure.

The National Child Care Association has raised concerns that this rule may financially strain thousands of childcare centers, especially in low-income neighborhoods where buildings are typically older. Without financial support, these new standards could force small childcare centers to shut down, according to the association's director, Cindy Lehnhoff.

In response, the White House and EPA officials highlighted the availability of federal funding to assist with these changes. They noted that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced $420 million in grants for lead hazard removal in homes, including those receiving HUD assistance. Additional HUD grants will also be available to support lead paint removal efforts.