Project Funders: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Howard University
Project Partner: Howard University Center for Urban Progress
Project Contact: Jonathan Wilson, jwilson@nchh.org, 443.539.4162
Project Description
This study developed a housing assessment tool (HAT) that can be used to predict relative effectiveness of different lead hazard control methods. The HAT predicts one year post-intervention floor and windowsill dust lead levels and the probability that these loadings will exceed current federal lead hazard standards. The study helps practitioners determine the minimum intervention intensity needed to reach “acceptable” one-year post-intervention levels, based on specific project needs, local needs, regulations, and resource constraints. For example, if the baseline floor loading is 100 μg/ft² and the HAT rating is poor, the probability that the one-year floor lead dust level exceeds the federal standard of 40 μg/ft² is 27% for a high-intensity strategy (i.e., window lead abatement with other treatments) but is 54% for a lower-intensity strategy (i.e., cleaning and spot painting). If the HAT rating is good, the probability that the one-year floor loading exceeds 40 μg/ft² is approximately the same for low- and high-intensity strategies (18% for window lead abatement with other treatments compared with 16% for cleaning and spot painting). Lead hazard control practitioners can use this information to make empirically-based judgments about the treatment intensity needed to ensure that one-year post-intervention loadings remain below federal standards.
Resources
Latest page update: April 4, 2024.