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Protecting Children from Lead: EPA efforts in the Pacific Southwest
National Links
- EPA's national lead Web site
- America's Children and the Environment: Lead
Lead is a major environmental health hazard for young children. Exposure to lead can contribute to learning and behavioral problems, particularly in children under the age of six. The primary source of lead exposures in children today is lead-based paint in older homes. There are a number of programs aimed at reducing children's exposure to lead within Region 9. These pages are intended to highlight key lead poisoning prevention programs, laws and regulations pertaining to lead, and provide additional lead resources for the Pacific Southwest
Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs
The Lead Contamination Control Act of 1989 authorized the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to initiate program efforts to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in the United States. As a result, the CDC’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch was created. Since 1990, this branch has helped to develop and improve lead poisoning prevention programs in 39 states and more than 150 cities and counties across the country. In the Pacific Southwest, there are comprehensive lead poisoning prevention programs in most states. Several cities in California also have their own lead poisoning prevention programs.
Lead poisoning prevention programs in:
Lead-Releated Resources
EPA Region 9 Lead Program
The Region 9 Lead Program implements a targeted education program to interpret the provisions of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act as well as providing education about the hazards of childhood lead poisoning to the public. This web site contains information about lead efforts currently underway in region 9. Links to EPA-accredited lead training providers, EPA-certified lead-based paint firms, federal lead regulations, and regional contacts are all available.
Reducing kids' exposure to lead: Recent EPA enforcement actions in the Pacific Southwest
A description of key lawsuits and enforcement actions related to lead exposure to children. Press releases are also available.
Lead Laws and Regulations
EPA rules and regulations
EPA has information concerning a number of rules and regulations pertaining to lead. Many of these regulations a related to paint and apply to all states.
California has a number of laws and regulations related to issues such as screening programs in children, lead-safe schools, and lead in toys. The California Department of Health Services Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch (CLPPB) 
has compiled comprehensive list of summarizing important lead laws
and regulations in California. Links to the full text of laws are
also available through this site.