Mitigation and Maintenance 
T his chapter describes the mitigation (cleaning) steps for indoor areas identified as 
having a lead dust hazard. This chapter presents the three-step wet cleaning method 
and explains the use of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter vacuums used 
by the Syracuse Lead Dust Project. Consistent with the goals of EMPACT, this mitigation 
approach is low cost and convenient to the affected community. 
• Section 7.1 is written for residents interested in learning how to mitigate (clean) lead dust in 
their homes. 
• Section 7.2 is written for managers and decision-makers who might be considering a lead 
dust program in their community and for organizers who are actually implementing a lead 
intervention program. It also describes Syracuse s HEPA vacuum loaner program. 
• Section 7.3 provides information on the proper management and disposal of lead dust 
debris. 
• Section 7.4 contains information on maintaining lead-safe practices in the home. 
• Section 7.3 provides resources for further information. 
V. 1 Lead Dust Mitigation 
Residents of homes and apartment buildings built before 1978 (the year a federal ban was 
imposed on lead-based paint used in residential settings) should consider contacting the local 
city or county health department to test for lead dust. In Syracuse, 
once lead dust is detected through inspection and sampling, the 
project allows participants to borrow a HEPA vacuum and recom¬ 
mends a three-step wet cleaning process. 
A HEPA vacuum cleaner is superior to other types of vacuums 
(including shop vacuums and other regular household vacuums) 
because it is equipped with a filter that can trap almost 100 percent 
of the dust that it collects. While the vacuum can be used without 
supervision, training might be necessary to properly and safely 
operate it, especially because lead dust is involved. Household vacu¬ 
ums should never be used to pick up lead dust or paint chips. 
Conventional vacuum filters are not equipped to handle and hold 
fine dust particles, and will simply redistribute lead dust through 
the exhaust. 
An area that contains lead dust or debris should also be wet cleaned with a cleaning agent and 
then rinsed with water; it should never be dry wiped or dry dusted. Syracuse uses paper towels 
or two disposable rags or sponges (one for the cleaning solution, and one for the rinse water). 
This helps avoid recontaminating areas that have already been cleaned. 
j n a report published in March 
I 2002 entitled, Managing 
Elevated Blood Lead Levels Among 
Young Children , CDC s Advisory 
Committee on Childhood Lead 
Poisoning Prevention states that 
repeated cleaning of household 
lead dust has been associated with 
decreases in children s mean blood 
lead levels. 
5 □ 
Chapter 7 
