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EPA awards $88,913 to Nevada tribe to assess lead-based paint hazards

Release Date: 7/29/2005
Contact Information: Margot Perez-Sullivan; 415.947.4149

Funds to be used for educational outreach and lead hazard assessments

San Francisco --The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded an $88,913 grant to Nevada's Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe to determine the extent of lead-based paint hazards potentially affecting children living on Fallon Paiute-Shoshone land.

This grant is one of several awarded nationwide to help tribes educate residents about the health effects of lead-based paint and provide funding to assess lead paint hazards of both homes where tribal children live and tribal buildings used by children.

"This grant is critical to help the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe determine whether children are being exposed to lead-based paint or lead hazards in their homes, school, daycare or community buildings," said Enrique Manzanilla, EPA's Director for the Communities and Ecosystems Division. "These funds will help protect the health and well-being of young children living on Fallon Paiute-Shoshone tribal land."

Under this grant, the tribe will conduct workshops for tribal residents that explain the health risks of lead-based paint, especially risks to young children and expectant mothers. Funds will be available to sample paint, dust and soil in and around pre-1978 housing where young children live to determine whether these children are potentially at risk of exposure to lead hazards. The grant funds also provide training for tribal environmental employees on lead inspections and risk assessments so they can take samples of paint, dust and soil at pre-1978 tribal housing where children live and at tribal facilities used by children.

In 1978 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of lead-based paint in residential housing and lowered the legal lead content in most paints to a trace amount. About 3/4 of the U.S. housing stock built before 1978, approximately 64 million homes, contains some lead-based paint. Lead chips and lead dust from paint manufactured before 1978 can create human health hazards.

Recent studies indicate that almost one million children have blood-lead levels above safe limits. Lead-based paint is a major source of lead poisoning for children and also affects adults. Lead poisoning can cause brain damage and result in impaired mental functions. Childhood lead poisoning can result in retarded mental and physical development and reduced attention span. Retarded fetal development can occur at even low blood lead levels. Unborn children, infants and young children have been identified as being among the most vulnerable to lead's adverse health effects.

Since treatment options for lead poisoning are limited, it is always best to prevent lead poisoning before it occurs. There are a number of ways to prevent lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is preventable with proper housekeeping, nutrition and personal care. For houses and apartments built before 1978, it is recommended that painted surfaces be regularly maintained especially at friction areas such as doors and windows. Always hire a certified professional to safely remove lead sources from pre-1978 houses and apartments, and ensure that children and pregnant women do not stay inside pre-1978 housing when renovations are underway.

Information on lead in paint, dust and soil is at https://www.epa.gov/lead/ and information on the lead paint program at EPA Region 9 is at https://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/lead/ . Information on how to protect your family from lead hazards is at https://www.epa.gov/lead/leadinfo.htm#protect.