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Lead-Safe Cambridge
- What is Lead-Safe Cambridge?
- What is Lead? Why is it a Serious Problem?
- How Do Children Get Exposed to Lead?
- What Can I Do to Prevent Lead Paint Poisoning?
- How Can Lead-Safe Cambridge Help?
- What is the Massachusetts Lead Law?
- The Massachusetts Lead Paint Housing Registry
- Lead Contaminated Toy Recalls
- 2007 HUD Grant to Lead-Safe Cambridge
- On Line Resources
- For More Information
We offer information and services in the following languages:
- Português - Fala-se Português. Telefone 617/349-5323.
- Informação para pintores de casas - Information for house painters in Portuguese.This file is in PDF format and requires use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.
- Portuguese language information for painters. These files are in PDF format and require use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.:
- Español - Para obtener informacion sobre el plomo en espanol: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/pyfcameraspan.pdf.
What is Lead-Safe Cambridge?
Lead-Safe Cambridge (LSC) is a program of the City of Cambridge Community Development Department. We are dedicated to providing deleading assistance and increasing awareness about the dangers posed by lead for children in the community of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Go
to information about the LSC Lead Paint Removal Program.
Go
to information about the LSC Safer Soil Program.
What is Lead? Why is it a Serious Problem?
Lead is a toxic metal that historically was used in paint, gasoline, and plumbing. It is very dangerous for children under the age of six because lead is absorbed more readily into their blood and stored more easily in their bones and internal organs. It can damage the brain and other developing organs. Lead poisoned children can suffer from permanent learning disabilities, behavioral problems, hearing problems, developmental delays and other serious health conditions.
How Do Children Get Exposed to Lead?
The most common source of childhood lead poisoning is ingestion (through normal hand-to-mouth behavior) of the fine dust that is created by deteriorating lead paint. Lead paint is common in homes built before it was banned for residential use in 1978. It becomes dangerous when it begins to chip and peel with age, or with wear and tear on lead painted friction surfaces. For example, children are often exposed by touching and ingesting fine lead dust produced from opening and closing lead painted windows and doors. Children certainly can become poisoned by eating paint chips or chewing directly on surfaces covered with lead-based paint, but this is not the most common source of exposure. Children can also be exposed to lead by playing in the soil around their homes. Lead is also released into the water from lead pipes or solder.
What Can I Do to Prevent Lead Poisoning?
If you have children under age six living in your home, the first step is to have the home inspected by a certified lead risk assessor. The best way to prevent lead paint poisoning is to ensure that lead paint is properly removed from your house or apartment by a certified lead paint abatement contractor. Removal of lead paint by an untrained person could result in toxic levels of lead dust in your home, which is extremely dangerous for children, pets, and adults. Here are a few simple things you can do for now:
- Wash children's hands frequently, especially after playing outside and before eating.
- Keep children's finger nails clean and short.
- Make sure your child is tested for lead every year at least until age 4.
- Wash toys, stuffed animals and security blankets;
- Wash window sills, troughs and floors once a week (Do not vacuum window areas).
- Open windows from the top if possible, or cover trough with vinyl flashing or apply a thick coat of latex paint.
- Don't scrape!
- Provide healthy foods rich in iron and calcium (Helps reduce absorption of lead).
- Consider having your soil and water tested for lead.
- Wipe feet or take off shoes at the door.
- Run your water on cold for a couple of minutes before using for drinking or cooking.
- For more information, call Lead-Safe Cambridge 617/349-LEAD.
How Can Lead-Safe Cambridge Help?
LSC offers funding to assist private property owners in deleading their units. The program provides the following services to qualified enrolled clients:
- Forgivable loans up to $10,000 per unit to property owners for lead paint removal.
- Free lead inspections.
- Free project management.
- Temporary relocation services to families while their apartments are being deleaded.
- Referrals for blood testing and medical follow-up for children under 6 years old.
- Educational materials and training sessions for families and service organizations in the community to help them learn more about the dangers of lead and the steps they can take to ensure safety.
Property owners who participate in LSC's program are also eligible to receive up to $2,500 through the Safer Soil Program to reduce lead hazards in their yards and gardens.
Go to information about the LSC Lead Paint Removal Program.
Go to information about the LSC Safer Soil Program.
What is the Massachusetts Lead Law?
In accordance with Massachusetts law, any apartment unit or single family home with an occupant who is less than six years old must be deleaded. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) defines deleading as the "removal or covering of lead violations." Not all lead paint must be removed or covered. After deleading is completed, homes are "lead-safe", not "lead-free."
See
the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Childhood Lead Poisoning
Prevention Program (CLPPP) web site for more specific information on the Lead Law.
The Massachusetts Lead Paint Housing Registry
The Massachusetts Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) maintains a registry of deleaded apartments and homes in Massachusetts. The purpose of the registry is to assist people in determining whether their home or prospective home has been deleaded.
To use the registry, select your city of choice from the drop down menu. Enter the street number and name to find a particular location.
Go
to the Massachusetts Childhood Lead
Poisoning Prevention Programs Lead Safe Homes
Lead Contaminated Toy Recalls
See these important notices the about the recall of toys contaminated with lead:
Lead-Safe Cambridge Program Receives HUD Grant Award
On November 8, 2007, representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded a lead hazard control grant in the amount of $770,000 to Lead-Safe Cambridge, a program of the Cambridge Community Development Department. The funding will enable the City to continue its valuable lead paint abatement and lead poisoning prevention program through December 2009.
On Line Resources
Lead-Safe Cambridge maintains a list of on-line resources that provide information about lead programs in Massachusetts, federal resources, local resources and lead contamination in the garden.
Go
to On-Line Lead Related Resources.
For More Information
For more information about Lead-Safe Cambridge, please call the Lead Line at 617/349-LEAD (5323) or email Toni Snow, Program Manager, at tsnow@cambridgema.gov. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.
Go
to Lead-Safe Cambridge Staff Contact List
Go
to Environmental and Transportation Planning Division
Go
to Housing Division
Return to Community
Development Department Home
Toni Snow
Program Manager
tsnow@cambridgema.gov
Phone: 617/349-6010
344 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02139
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TTY:
Fax:
Hours:
617/349-4621
617/349-4675
8:30 - 8:00 Monday
8:30 - 5:00 T/W/Th
8:30 - 12:00 Friday
