For those who can’t make the in-person events, the city will also host webinars to provide valuable information for families, tenants, building owners, contractors, and managers on lead poisoning prevention.

Lead 101: Uncovering the Hidden Dangers in Your Home

Lead is a harmful metal that, despite declining trends, poses a preventable public health concern for all New Yorkers, especially children and pregnant people. Peeling paint and its dust are the primary sources of lead exposure for young children, who may ingest it from windowsills and floors, leading to learning and behavioral problems. For adults, consumer products and job-related exposures, particularly in the construction industry, pose a risk for lead poisoning and can cause various health issues, including cardiovascular issues, miscarriages, and infertility.

To prevent lead poisoning in your home, it is important to take necessary precautions, including:

• If you notice peeling or damaged paint, report it to your building’s owner or managing agent immediately. If they fail to act, or the work is done unsafely, report the problem online or by calling 311.
• Be sure to wash floors, windowsills, hands, and toys often.
• Remove shoes before entering your home, and if someone in your household works in construction, wash their clothes separately from the family laundry.
• Avoid using products from other countries that may contain lead, such as certain foods and spices, medicines, ceramics, cosmetics, toys, and amulets. For more information, visit gov/hazardousproducts.
• When drinking, cooking, and making baby formula, use only cold tap water and run the water for at least 30 seconds until it is noticeably colder before using it. Call 311 to obtain a free lead test kit for drinking water. Results will be received within 30 days.

While the City continues to spread awareness and reduce exposure for all New Yorkers, it’s crucial to continue to test for lead. A blood test for lead is the only way to find out if you or your child has an elevated blood lead level. In New York State, children must be tested for lead poisoning at ages 1 and 2 and screened for risk up to age 6. Ask your doctor about testing older children if you think they may have been exposed to lead. Pregnant people should be assessed for lead exposure at their first prenatal visit. If you are at risk for lead exposure due to your job, hobby, or use of certain products, speak with your doctor about getting a blood lead test. Call 311 for help finding a doctor or clinic.

Teaming Up for a Lead-Free NYC: How HPD, DOHMH, and NYCHA Approach Reducing Exposure

HPD, DOHMH, and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) work together to tackle elevated blood lead levels in both children and adults by taking a comprehensive approach that aims to reduce lead hazards in homes, the workplace, and communities. The DOHMH staff conducts interviews with New Yorkers that have elevated blood lead levels to identify potential sources, conduct environmental sampling, and take enforcement actions to address the hazard. HPD is dedicated to enforcing New York City’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, requiring that rental property owners take proactive steps to protect children from lead-based paint exposure. Requirements include:

• Annually determining apartments where a child under 6 routinely spends 10 or more hours in a week
• Inspecting those units and the building common areas for peeling and deteriorating paint
• Remediating hazards in those units and common areas using safe work practices and certified lead-remediation staff and contractors
• Remediating lead-based paint hazards and abating window and door friction surfaces in all units at turnover
• Testing for lead-based paint in all rental units by August 2025

In addition, through the Lead-Based Paint Abatement Program, NYCHA’s Healthy Homes Department is conducting lead-based paint testing at a rate of 700 to 800 units per week, having successfully tested over 86,000 units at the newer, stricter 0.5 milligram threshold. NYCHA is also abating 300 to 400 units per month. NYCHA provides detailed reporting on its compliance with federal and local requirements, which is shared with its federal partners and posted on its public website.

NYCHA’s comprehensive Team for Enhanced Management Planning and Outreach (TEMPO) Program accelerates the abatement of lead-based paint in apartments where children under the age of six live or routinely visit more than 10 hours per week, ensuring full lead abatement in line with the city’s standard of 0.5 milligrams per square centimeter.

Property Owners: Your Responsibilities Under NYC’s Lead Laws

Property owners can learn more about their responsibilities by accessing HPD’s webinar series on compliance requirements, available at Lead-Based Paint - HPD (nyc.gov). Failure to meet these legal obligations can result in emergency repairs conducted by HPD, with costs billed to the property, as well as civil penalties, court orders, and other enforcement actions. Under Local Law 31 of 2020, landlords are required to identify and test for the presence of lead-based paint in dwelling units and common areas of buildings constructed before 1960, with a compliance deadline of August 9, 2025. To support these efforts, HPD launched the new Lead Exemption Online Portal (LEOP), designed to streamline the process for landlords to manage and report lead exemptions, ensuring compliance and contributing to safer homes for all New Yorkers. HPD has also initiated outreach efforts to inform property owners about the upcoming compliance deadline through informational bulletins and will be distributing postcards and making automated phone calls in the coming weeks to ensure property owners are fully informed.  

HPD continues its collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General and the New York City Law Department to enhance its Local Law 1 litigation efforts and ensure landlord compliance. In Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), HPD collected over $400,000 in civil penalties for lead-based paint hazards and record-keeping violations, including more than $140,000 from 16 cases initiated that year. Additionally, 21,854 violations were issued for lead-based paint hazards. As part of its unwavering commitment to protecting public health, the Emergency Repair Program has spent over $2.97 million in remediation and abatement work related to Lead-based paint hazards in residential properties in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24).

“Eliminating the threat of lead exposure and the dangers they pose to New Yorkers, especially children, must remain a priority for our city,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Council is proud to advance progress and build on previous efforts to protect residents from lead poisoning, including legislation relating to lead-paint investigations and remediation in housing units. As we kick off National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, it is critical that we empower New Yorkers with the information and resources to prevent lead exposure. I encourage all communities to take part in the educational events hosted by city agencies and partnering community organizations.”

“Safe, accessible housing is a matter of environmental and public health. While we've made significant strides in reducing lead exposure in buildings, by continuing to invest in education and communication between landlords, tenants and government, we can make a healthier future for all New Yorkers,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

"Our tenants must be aware of their rights and the hazards that lead paint can cause in their homes. HPD and DOHMH's efforts in partnering with City Agencies to bring awareness to our communities will prevent families from suffering the long-lasting consequences of lead paint poisoning; while also holding landlords accountable in up-keeping tenant's apartments with city-wide lead paint regulations,” said Council Member Oswald Feliz.

“It is truly heartening to see the progress we have made in reducing childhood lead exposure by 93% since 2005.  Partnerships with the community, public health institutions, and regulatory agencies help achieve such success.  However, the task of informing and engaging the public about health hazards, such as lead, and advocating for the enforcement of safety measures is continuous. An informed and engaged public matters, regulations, and their enforcement matter. This is the work of public health - with and for the people,” said Maricela Ureño, MPH, Columbia University Center for Children’s Environmental Health, Community Outreach Coordinator.

"Scientific research on lead exposure and its health effects that is linked to public health actions can have a transformative impact on communities when effectively integrated with community engagement and partnerships. Collaborative efforts between researchers and communities not only ensure that the research addresses the real-world needs of those affected but also foster trust and shared decision-making. This partnership relevance is crucial for translating scientific findings, such as those from the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, into actionable public health interventions that are both culturally appropriate and widely accepted, thereby enhancing health outcomes and reducing disparities." Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz, ScD, Associate Professor, CCCEH.

For additional information on how to prevent exposure to lead, visit nyc.gov/LeadFreeNYC or call 311. For additional information about the requirements of New York City’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, visit: nyc.gov/lead-based-paint.

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