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New Study Shows Thorough Cleaning May Not Address Lead-Paint Hazards

Columbia, Maryland -- A one-time industrial cleaning to control lead-paint hazards in homes is ineffective, and does not reduce harmful lead dust that causes childhood lead poisoning, according to a study by the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) released in the February 2003 issue of Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. NCHH's scientific study on one-time cleaning is part of an evaluation of HUD's Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Grant program.

"Identifying practical interventions that minimize lead-based paint hazards, and are also cost-effective has been one of our greatest challenges," says Rebecca Morley, Executive Director of NCHH. "Unfortunately, while a good industrial cleaning may be less costly than other interventions, cleaning alone may not be effective or a worthwhile investment in homes with significant deteriorating lead paint."

Controlling dust lead levels may first require maintenance to deteriorating lead paint, window troughs, and windowsills. This conclusion is based on NCHH's data and data from other studies evaluating HUD's lead hazard control program. While NCHH's study entailed only a one-time industrial cleaning, other study cohorts removed peeling lead-based paint and repaired windows, which resulted in a substantially greater reduction of lead dust levels.

"We want lead programs and property owners to consider the results of this comprehensive evaluation when deciding whether to pursue an occasional professional cleaning, or to do repairs. Repair work requires more extensive interventions, but does not have to be repeated as often as cleaning, is easier to implement, and has longer-lasting results," says Morley.

NCHH's study includes data on dust lead levels prior to cleaning, immediately after cleaning, as well as six months, one and two years post-cleaning in homes with deteriorated lead-based paint.  Dust lead levels in windowsills and on window troughs dropped substantially immediately after the cleaning but rebounded to dangerous levels by six months post-cleaning. However, there was no significant dust lead loading on floors over time.

"These results tell us we must commit to following up and fixing the real source of the problem," says Sherry Dixon, an NCHH statistician and contributor to the report. "Cleaning can be helpful as a very short-term measure but is not the solution when the house has ongoing lead problems like peeling paint. Therefore, we should reserve cleaning strictly as an emergency measure to immediately reduce a child's exposure to lead."

NCHH's study involved 37 units in Wisconsin and Minnesota where trained personnel performed the cleanings. The protocols involved use of a high-efficiency, industrial vacuum, wet washing of all surfaces, and replacement of miniblinds with lead-free shades. Or else the procedure focused on window maintenance, including removal of surface paint chips and dust from windows' exteriors and interiors, followed by a second vacuuming and a wet washing of the areas.

NCHH is a supporting organization of The Enterprise Foundation and the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning. NCHH develops and promotes practical methods for protecting children from residential environmental hazards while preserving the supply of affordable housing. For more information about this study, please visit NCHH's website at www.centerforhealthyhousing.org

To read the abstract published in the Journal of Applied and Occupational Hygiene, please click here.