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BUREAU OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

LEAD-BASED PAINT PROGRAM

Our goal is to control and prevent housing/environmental conditions, which result in childhood lead poisoning. This is accomplished by providing educational information to the public, coordinating with the City agencies rehabilitating targeted high-risk affordable housing, investigating and early response to families of lead-poisoned children, enforcement of applicable laws, and response to community complaints.

ABOUT LEAD AND LEAD POISONING: 

Lead is a highly toxicetal that may cause a range of health problems, especially in young children. When lead is absorbed into the body, it can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs, like the kidneys, nerves and blood.

Most of the lead found in homes comes from lead-based paint, which was used in homes built before 1978. When old paint cracks and chips, it creates lead dust. Often, the dust is so small you can’t even see it. Lead poisoning is most often caused by swallowing or breathing in lead dust by accident.

Lead can also be found in other places in your home. Sometimes lead can be found in water that travels through lead pipes or in the soil around your home.

Both inside and outside the home, deteriorated lead-paint mixes with household dust and soil and becomes tracked in. Children may become lead poisoned by:

  • Putting their hands or other lead-contaminated objects into their mouths,
  • Eating paint chips found in homes with peeling or flaking lead-based paint, or
  • Playing in lead-contaminated soil

ABOUT THE HUD LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION PROGRAM

The City of Long Beach is administering a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The grant provides funding to control lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 affordable housing occupied by young families (with children under the age of 6, pregnant women, or where young children frequently visit) in targeted high-risk areas of the City of Long Beach.

HUD-Funded Grant: Lead Hazard Reduction Program:

  • HUD funds are used to control lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 affordable housing occupied by young families (with children under the age of 6, pregnant women, or where young children frequently visit) in targeted high-risk areas of the City.
  • Lead hazard reduction activities include safely scraping, priming, and repainting interior and exterior surfaces, window and door replacement, and soil replacement.
  • Property owners are asked for permission to inspect and to repair hazards.
  • Housing that has been made “lead-safe” may be found here: Lead-Safe Housing Directory
  • To see how your property can benefit from the Lead Hazard Reduction Program, see How the Lead Hazard Reduction Program Works

For more information on Environmental Health Lead Hazard Program, please call (562) 570-4488.