The HUD Risk Assessment Study

Lead in the bloodstream harms the brain. The damage it causes is permanent!

Goals: 1. To assess the ability of the 1995 HUD risk assessment protocols to predict dwelling units that are likely to house children having elevated blood lead levels, and assess the effect of modifying the protocols.2. To assess the ability of the 1995 HUD lead hazard screening protocols to predict the need for risk assessments, to predict dwelling units that are likely to house children having elevated blood lead levels and to assess the effect of modifying the protocols.3. To describe the contribution of friction and impact surfaces to floor dust lead loadings.4. To assess the ability of the 1995 HUD paint film quality classification system to predict rooms and dwellings that are likely to have elevated dust lead loadings.5. To estimate the effect of dust lead measurement error on estimates of dust lead loadings.

Description: In 1997, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the National Center for Lead-Safe Housing (the Center) a grant to evaluate the performance of HUD's lead risk assessment and lead hazard screening protocols in predicting whether the resident child will have an elevated blood lead level (i.e., ≥10 µg/dL) and to identify ways to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of these protocols.

Two hundred fifty-four dwellings with young children were enrolled in the study in three sites: Baltimore County, Maryland, Milwaukee, and New York City. The study sites were chosen because of the different ages and types of housing stock, and the presence of strong, capable local partners to help manage the study. From June to October 1998, certified risk assessors conducted comprehensive environmental testing including a visual inspection, XRF inspection, dust wipes, paint chips, soil and water samples. A family interview assessing demographic and exposure characteristics of the family and individual child was administered in the home. All of the information was collected using standardized procedures and forms.

Results and Conclusions:

• The 1995 risk assessment protocol is not a significant predictor of the blood lead status (blood lead level ≥10 µg/dL or <10 µg/dL) of a child in the dwelling.
• Under the 1995 HUD risk assessment protocols, a high percentage of dwellings in the pre-1950 housing stock in the study failed (80-82%), but only 50% of the dwellings had a lead-poisoned child.
• In Baltimore County post-1950 housing, 80% of the dwellings had deteriorated LBP and hence would fail the 1995 or 2001 protocols while 1% of the dwellings had a lead-poisoned child.
• Protocols can be defined that are significant predictors of the blood lead status of a child in the dwelling. However, none of them have both a high sensitivity (ability to fail homes with an EBL child) and high specificity (ability to pass homes without an EBL child) at the same time.
• The relationships observed between different lead-based paint hazards and blood lead status varied significantly between sites.

For more information contact Jonathan Wilson at 443.539.4162 or at jwilson@centerforhealthyhousing.org

Study of HUDs Risk Assessment Methodology in Three Communities Final Report is now available for downloading. This report is in three sections: the Executive Summary; Volume 1 (which includes the main report and Appendix A); and Volume II (which includes Appendices B-E)

Click here to download the Executive Summary. (File size 176 KB) Click here to download Volume 1 (which includes the main report and Appendix A). (File size 3 MB) Click here to download Volume II (which includes Appendices B-E). (File size 3.5 MB)

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