Lead in New England

Lead Poisoning Prevention Tools

EPA New England's Lead Program strives to provide information to the public about sources of lead paint hazards, health effects of lead poisoning, established and proposed regulations, and resources.

Most of our outreach is conducted in partnership with the many lead poisoning prevention programs in the region, direct mailings, participation at related events and conventions, electronic media (such as this site) and telephone conversation.

If you would like to request someone in our lead staff to make a presentation regarding lead or lead regulations please contact the lead program staff.

Children | Home | Yard | Schools/Child care | Grants

What you can do to help protect your children

• Have your child tested for elevated blood lead levels
• Wash your child's hands, bottles, pacifiers and toys often
• Test the soil your child plays In. For Information on Soil Testing in Your State, see our section on Federal, States, Tribes and Organizations.
• Have your home checked for lead hazards. For Information on Lead Testing see our section on Federal, States, Tribes and Organizations.
• Keep floors, window sills and other surfaces dust and dirt free.
• Take precautions to avoid exposure to lead dust when remodeling or renovating and learn how to renovate lead-based paint safely
  • Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodling Your Home (PDF) (26 pp., 933 KB, about PDF)
• Use very cold water for drinking and cooking.

EPA Office of Children's Health Protection

Kid's Page: Adventures of the Lead Busters Club

 

Lead inside your Home

Lead in Drinking Water

Lead poisoning can be prevented--if tenants and homeowners know how to reduce or eliminate exposure to lead dust and deteriorated lead paint and what danger signs to look for.

EPA has designed educational materials to help parents, home owners, renovation contractors and lead professionals learn what they can do to protect their families, and themselves, from the dangers of lead. Some materials include

EPA Booklet "Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home" (PDF) (26 pp., 933 KB, about PDF).

The New England Lead Coordinating Committee and the "Keep It Clean Campaign" creates a link between the consumer and hardware store employees, informing "do-it-yourself" home renovators, contractors, and those who employ contractors about the risk of lead poisoning in children and adults during the renovation and repainting of older homes. For copies of "The Homeowner's Guide to Lead-Safe Painting and Home Improvement" in English or Spanish, or, for participating Paint and Hardware Stores, a copy of the Video, "Keeping your Customers Lead Safe" part of the "Keep it Clean" program., call NELCC 860-570-9068 or go to the NELCC website.

For more information on the campaign visit our "Keep It Clean Page".

Lead in Your Yard

Lead Safe Yard Project: Information to increase your knowledge of lead in residential soil

 

Lead In Schools and Child Care Facilities

New England's school buildings can suffer from a variety of environmental problems, including poor maintenance, that can make our children ill.

Indoor Air Quality and Tools for Schools

Healthy Schools Network, Inc.

Brochure: Are you providing safe drinking water at your school? (PDF) (18 pp., 368 KB, about PDF)

"FIRST STEPS"
Little Moccasins video, and First Steps CD designed by tribal and state lead professionals to provide a tool for families and child care providers to educate and protect our most valued natural resource, Our Children. To obtain a copy of the "First Steps Interrctive Lead Safety Program For Families and Child Care Providers.. Games-Video-Kiosk-Manuals"

Contact:
Phillip Quint (quint@ainop.com)
Lead-Housing-Sanitation Director
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
207.532.7260

Healthy Beginnings: Lead Safe Families. A English As a Second Language curriculum, developed by EPA New England

Grants And Resources

Federal Funding Grant opportunities: Community groups and municipalities are urged to apply for the following EPA grant opportunities.

Community Toolbox for Children's Environmental Health focuses its energies on providing small grants in conjunction with capacity building training and technical assistance to parent and other community-based groups.

Public Welfare Foundation funds environmental projects aimed at protecting human health. (202) 965-1800