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INTRODUCTION 
L ead poisoning in children under the age of six continues to be a serious environmental 
health problem in the United States. Children from all socio-economic segments 
are potentially at risk, whether they are members of immigrant families living in old 
apartment buildings in inner cities, or members of well-to-do households living in historic resi¬ 
dences. They can be exposed to lead where they live and play, primarily from the lead dust cre¬ 
ated when lead-based paint rubs off windows and other surfaces inside their homes. The good 
news is that many communities are taking effective action to raise awareness of lead-based paint 
and reduce the hazards of lead exposure to young children. 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and 
Urban Development (HUD) share joint responsibilities for the environmental and health risks 
of lead-based paint, and the two agencies are protecting children through issuing grants to 
localities such as Syracuse with the goal of reducing childhood lead poisoning. 
This technology transfer case study is designed to address two main goals. The first goal is to 
show how the Lead Dust Outreach, Monitoring, and Education Project in Syracuse, New York 
(Syracuse Lead Dust Project), is using a variety of effective, low-cost public information and 
education techniques to reduce children s exposure to elevated levels of lead dust in their homes 
and day care facilities. The second goal is to provide information, recommendations, sugges¬ 
tions, and tools to assist individuals or groups who are developing similar programs to address 
the problem of lead dust in their communities. The lessons learned are based on the experiences 
of the Syracuse Lead Dust Project and several other programs that are highlighted at various 
points throughout this case study. 
This document is written primarily for community organizers, nonprofit groups, local govern¬ 
ment officials, tribal officials, and other decision-makers who will implement, or are considering 
implementing, lead dust outreach, monitoring, and mitigation programs. Much of the informa¬ 
tion will also be useful to tenants and homeowners interested in finding low-cost ways to 
reduce children s exposure to lead dust. 
Before attempting to implement the process described in this case study, project staff, commu¬ 
nity organizers, homeowners, and tenants must be aware of the potential hazards associated 
with lead-based paint in housing. Everyone should carefully read those passages of the case 
study that describe lead hazards (Chapter 2). 
1.1 About EPA’s Empact Program 
This case study was developed by EPA s EMPACT Program (www.epa.gov/empact). EPA creat¬ 
ed EMPACT (Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking) to pro¬ 
mote new and innovative approaches to collecting, managing, and communicating 
environmental information to the public. Working with communities across the country, the 
program takes advantage of new technologies to provide community members with timely, 
accurate, and understandable environmental information they can use to make informed, day- 
to-day decisions about their lives. EMPACT projects cover a wide range of environmental 
issues, including water quality, ground water contamination, smog, ultraviolet radiation, and 
overall ecosystem quality. 
Introduction 
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