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.
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Program Partnerships
Childhood Lead Poisoning Investigation and Outreach
- Referral for investigation of lead-poisoned children, including blood testing and in-home environmental lead testing.
- Enforcement of environmental ordinances.
- Preventive outreach/education with families of lead-burdened children.
- For more information on the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP), see http://longbeach.gov/health/services/directory/clppp/
Community Complaint Response, Education, and Outreach
- Information/referrals provided to the public.
- Site investigation (Complaints) performed in some cases.
- Educational materials provided to contractors and Long Beach residents.
- For more information see our handout on Lead-Based Paint Regulations and Code Violations.
Services to Other Departments
- Stucco lead sampling as part of the Community Development Department sandblasting permit process.
- Lead inspection/risk assessment on City property and equipment, e.g. playground equipment, on request.
- Lead paint inspection, project design, monitoring, and final clearance testing services for other City housing programs, on request
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Additional Resources
- Lead Program Brochure-Tenants (English and Spanish)
- Lead Program Brochure- Owners (English and Spanish)
- Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home: English | Spanish | Tagalog
- The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right: English | Spanish
- Lead Paint Safety: A Field Guide for Interim Controls in Painting and Home Maintenance
- Lead Poisoning and your childrenl: English | Spanish
- Lead Poisoning Home Checklist (English)
- EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Program for Consumers