Lead Hazards in Common Areas

Project Funder: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Project Partner: University of Cincinnati

Project Contact: Jonathan Wilson, jwilson@nchh.org, 443.539.4162

Project Description

This study examined the relationships between common area paint and dust lead levels and the floor dust lead loadings in associated dwelling units, as well as the effects of lead hazard control treatments in common areas. This study used data collected from the Evaluation of the HUD Lead Hazard Control Grant Program. The study used data from common areas in 145 low-income, mostly pre-1940, multiunit buildings with 342 associated dwelling units. Interior common area treatments reduced geometric mean common entry dust lead loadings 71% from pre-intervention to clearance, and maintained those reduced levels from clearance to one year post-intervention. This study demonstrates that interior common areas in the multiunit buildings examined contain substantial amounts of deteriorated lead-based paint and dust. Dust lead from those sources migrates into the associated dwelling units. Furthermore, remediation of common areas effectively reduces those hazards.

Resources

The Influence of Common Area Lead Hazards and Lead Hazard Control on Dust Lead Loadings in Multiunit Buildings [pdf]

Related Resources

Evaluation of the HUD Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program: Final Report [url, pdf; HUD, 2004]

Latest page update: September 26, 2017.