HUD Seeks Input on Lowering Permissible Blood-Lead Levels in Children

Lead exposure poses significant health risks, particularly to children under 6, and HUD’s recent actions reflect a commitment to mitigating these risks by aligning its policies with updated CDC guidelines and providing funding to reduce health hazards in public housing. 

One level deeper: HUD recently published a notice for comment in the Federal Register seeking public input regarding its intention to revise the “elevated blood lead level” (EBLL) threshold requirements for HUD-assisted housing. HUD is proposing to lower the EBLL threshold from 5 µg/dL to 3.5 µg/dL for children under 6 in HUD-assisted housing. This change would align HUD's regulations with the CDC's updated "blood lead reference value" and expand the scope of environmental investigations and lead hazard control efforts. Comments are due by Oct. 11.

HUD’s Lead Safe Housing Rule requires a public housing agency or the owner to carry out certain actions, including environmental investigations, if a child is found with an EBLL. During an environmental investigation, inspectors must check a child’s environment for possible causes of lead exposure and, if lead-based paint hazards are identified in the child’s unit, a risk assessment must be conducted at other HUD-assisted units in the building occupied by children under the age of 6. 

The bottom line: HUD aims to trigger more proactive measures for identifying and addressing lead hazards, ultimately protecting more children from the dangers of lead poisoning in HUD-assisted housing. This action to match the latest public health guidelines issued by the CDC coincides with an $87 million funding announcement by HUD to reduce residential health hazards. According to HUD, the money will be distributed through the Capital Fund Housing-Related Hazards (HRH) program and the Lead-Based Paint (LBP) Capital Fund program. Together, these programs will support efforts to identify and remediate health hazards in public housing.