Project Funder: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Project Partners: University of Cincinnati (UC) and grant recipients in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey; New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Project Contact: Jonathan Wilson, jwilson@nchh.org, 443.539.4162
Project Description: In 1993, HUD contracted with NCHH to evaluate the interventions being conducted by lead hazard control (LHC) grantees. The grantees designed and implemented their LHC grant programs. Within grant requirements, they decided which homes would be treated and what LHC treatments would be done on specific homes. They supervised the LHC activities and managed the evaluation locally.
NCHH and UC developed the Evaluation protocols, administered the study and analyzed and reported on the results. The grantees collected information on environmental conditions (paint, dust, soil lead); blood lead; building conditions/characteristics; family demographics/characteristics; lead interventions; and costs. Grantees collected data at pre-intervention, clearance, and 6-, 12-months post-intervention. They collected additional information from a quarter of the dwellings 24- and 36-months post-intervention.
The Evaluation offers comprehensive findings on a broad range of issues related to LHC from 2,900 homes. Of key importance, the study documented that the interim controls are an effective method to control lead hazards for at least three years. The Evaluation also demonstrated that the HUD LHC Grant Program is successful: Children’s blood lead levels declined by 37%, and floor dust lead levels declined by 78% three years after treatment.