a 48-hour period, and centers may charge a late fee for each additional day past due. Each filter 
lasts for approximately hve uses, and customers may purchase additional filters if necessary at 
cost using the re-order form provided in the lead center program materials. The organizations 
responsible for the lead centers must visit each center periodically to collect and properly dis¬ 
pose of used filters, as defined by municipality guidelines. 
Hennepin County, Minnesota, accepts used filters as residential waste, but in other municipali¬ 
ties, the lead center must check with its local hazardous waste disposal authority. Airtight con¬ 
tainers, buckets, or drums may be used by a lead center to temporarily store used filters. The 
organization sponsoring the lead center is responsible for periodically visiting the centers to col¬ 
lect any generated waste. The centers also must track the number of uses for each filter by writ¬ 
ing the address of the user with a permanent marker directly on the filter. 
Results 
On average, 150 children per year are found to have blood levels of 20 g/dL and 300 are 
found to have a level between 10 g/dL (the current level of concern as defined by the CDC) 
and 19 g/dL. But these numbers are still not an accurate reflection of the number of children 
who are actually being exposed to and impacted by lead. In fact, the most recent reports show 
that less than 20 percent of Minneapolis children have a blood lead test. And the Minnesota 
Department of Health reports that 40 percent of Minneapolis s Somali and Laos population are 
tested positive to have blood lead levels over 10 g/dL. 
Despite limited funds, the Minneapolis project has already made an impact. The project has 
helped create 14 lead centers throughout the Minneapolis area over the last five years. And lead 
programs all over the nation contact the Minneapolis program s leaders all the time asking for 
guidance and assistance. 
Awards and Recdgnitidn 
In May 2001, the Minneapolis Lead Hazard Control Program received the 2001 Lead Star 
Award presented by the National Lead Assessment and Abatement Council. 
Fdr More Infdrmatidn 
Johanna (Jo) Miller 
Project Coordinator 
Children s Environmental Health 
Minneapolis Environmental Services 
250 South 4th Street, Room 401 
Minneapolis, MN 55415 
612 673-3856 
Minneapolis 
Lead Hazard 
Control 
Program 
9 1 
