Tejal Somvanshi
In an era when most homeowners worry about energy efficiency and smart appliances, millions of American families face a much older threat: lead paint. Two Midwestern cities are now stepping up with programs to tackle this persistent health hazard.
Bloomington and Phoenix have launched initiatives targeting homes built before 1978—when lead paint was finally banned. These programs specifically help families with young children, who face the greatest risk from this invisible danger.
Building defenses
Bloomington began its Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program in 2023 after securing a federal grant from HUD. The program has already fixed seven homes, with plans to repair 92 more.
The program prioritizes:
- Homes built before 1978
- Families earning less than 80% of the Area Median Income
- Households with children under six years old
According to city data, one in 20 Bloomington children tested already has elevated lead levels—higher than the national average.
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Phoenix has focused on water infrastructure compliance with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule. The city has inspected water service lines, finding no lead pipes but identifying galvanized lines that may contain lead. A service line replacement program is set to begin in 2025.
The city also offers the “Lead Safe PHX” program, providing free lead testing for qualifying residents, particularly in homes built before 1978 with pregnant women or children under six.
What’s the risk ?
Our kids are being impacted by lead poisoning,” said Anita Weinberg, the Curt and Linda Rodin Clinical Professor of Law and Social Justice and director of the ChildLaw Policy Institute. “If you are impacted by it, it’s going to affect your ability to learn. It impacts your behavior.
The two together impact your future, including whether or not you finish school. If you have challenges learning, you’re less likely to stay engaged in school. If you don’t stay engaged in school, you’re more likely to end up in the justice system.”
Even though children are at greater risk, lead exposure remains a significant public health challenge.
- Approximately 31 million U.S. homes still contain lead-based paint
- 3.8 million of these homes house children under six
- Recent EPA regulations have lowered acceptable lead levels in dust
- The outgoing Biden Administration announced plans to replace all lead pipes within ten years.
