NEW RESULTS IN LEAD POISONING PREVENTION: Windows, porches and dust lead standards Jonathan Wilson, Deputy Director David Jacobs, Director of Research National Center for Healthy Housing
Porch Options to Restore Children’s Health The PORCH Study Jonathan Wilson, Sherry Dixon, David Jacobs, Judith Akoto, Katrina Korfmacher, and Jill Breysse
Background No standards exist for exterior PbD EPA cited a lack of data for not proposing a standard Previous studies have documented high porch dust lead levels (PbD): Rochester (1992) 92 µg/ft2 homes with EBLs 48 µg/ft 2 homes without EBLs Milwaukee (2002) 77 µg/ft 2 by porch railing 59 µg/ft 2 by front steps 2.5 times the avg. interior floor PbD
HUD OHHLHC FUNDER: National Center for Healthy Housing PRIME RESEARCHER: 12/2008 – 12/2012 PROJECT PERIOD: Rochester, NY LOCATION: City of Rochester University of Rochester Action for a Better Community (CAA) PARTNERS: PORCH Study
Objectives Analyze existing dust and blood data from 125 homes in the Rochester Lead in Dust study (1992) to consider exterior dust lead standard Quantify dust lead levels on porches of units undergoing lead hazard control and determine likely sources of the dust lead Investigate the feasibility of maintaining reductions in dust lead loadings for up to a year following lead hazard control
Blood Lead Analysis Child blood lead levels predicted by: Exterior deterioration (roof, walls/siding, windows/doors, or foundation) Interior floor PbD Porch floor PbD Window sill PbD if children put their mouths on the sill Presence of a neighborhood lead point source Sill surface condition Attempts to define a specific porch dust lead standard were inconclusive
Data Collected Out of 102 dwellings enrolled in Rochester LHC program with porches, 79 dwellings were treated and tested at baseline, post-work and one-year post-work Visual condition of exterior paint Porch dust lead (by steps, door, and railing) Type and condition of porch floor surface Soil lead Soil coverage Presence of local point sources Weather conditions
Baseline Results 68 µg/ft 2 (Steps and Entry: 47 µg/ft 2; Railing: 86 µg/ft 2 ) Porch Floor PbD 58% painted wood (92% had LBP) Surface Type: 76% Fair Surface Condition: 82% dwellings; 1,004 ppm* Foundation Bare Soil: 18 µg/ft 2 Interior Floor PbD:
Predictive Factors of Porch PbD Sample location – Railings are higher Surface condition Climatic conditions (lower PbD if unpainted and wet) Floor paint lead level Condition of other porch surfaces Not significant: Soil, exterior condition, cleanliness, season Neighborhood point sources significant post-work
Effects of Exterior Lead Hazard Control Porch Floor Treatment (n) Baseline (µg/ft 2 ) Post- Work (µg/ft 2 ) One- Year (µg/ft 2 ) Remove/Replace (45)9141**21** None (27)3671**42 Paint Stabilization (7)11956**33** All (79)685128** **p<0.05 compared to baseline
Predicted One-Year Effects by Baseline PbD
Key Findings Porches are an exposure source that must be considered Porch PbD is correlated with interior PbD When porches are not treated, PbD levels rise post-work but later decline When porches are replaced, PbD levels decline post-work and continue to decline through 1-year Soil lead was not an influential factor in this study, but was in prior studies
Recommendations Clearance testing on porches should be required post-work Further studies are needed to identify a risk standard In the interim, a clearance level of 40 µg/ft2 is feasible Any standard must specify the location to sample Porch dust lead is strongly related to the paint and conditions on the porch Exterior point sources can affect porch dust lead levels but they are not as influential as paint on the porch; property owners can take action that will protect children in residence
Acknowledgements Conrad Floss ~ City of Rochester Steven Turner & Chanel Hernandez ~ ABC Gene Pinzer ~ HUD
National Center for Healthy Housing Facebook.com/HealthyHousing Jonathan Wilson, MPP Deputy Director Dave Jacobs, PhD, CIH Director of Research