A subset of housing included in the Evaluation of the HUD Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program was selected for additional environmental sampling focused on assessing the contribution of exterior sources of lead to interior dust lead levels. Results obtained from the 500 dwelling units studied revealed a wide range of exterior dust and soil lead levels both within and across the 10 contributing grantee sites. The minimum and maximum geometric mean values by grantee were: 29 and 273 µg/sq ft for exterior entry dust lead loading; 9.0 and 84 µg/sq ft for street dust lead loading and 383 and 2710 ppm for soil lead concentration. Statistical modeling revealed a direct pathway from street dust lead to exterior entry dust lead and thence to interior entry dust and to windowsill dust lead. Street dust lead also contributed directly to windowsill elevation dust lead. Lead loading levels on window troughs and on interior entrees were lower as the elevation of the housing unit above the street increased. Thus, this provides further support for the contribution of exterior sources to interior household dust lead. Soil lead data were not available for almost one-half of the housing units. Statistical analysis revealed several paint factors contribution to soil lead but a pathway from soil lead to dust lead was not detected with this data set. The inclusion of measures to mitigate the role of exterior sources in lead hazard control programs needs to be considered.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Lead, Housing
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.