The primary way children are exposed to lead is through contact with lead-contaminated paint and dust in older homes.

When lead-based paint chips, peels, or flakes, it creates dust or chips that can end up on surfaces children touch. Young children often put their hands, toys, or other objects in their mouths, increasing the risk of exposure.

Additional sources of lead include:

• Drinking water and soil
• Certain medicines, candy, spices, cosmetics, and metal jewelry
• Glazed pottery and food imported from other countries
• Certain workplaces and hobbies

Learn more about common lead sources on the New York State Department of Health's website.

To stay informed about products recalled for lead and other safety hazards, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

Children exposed to lead often show no visible signs of illness. A blood test is the only way to confirm lead poisoning.

• New York State law requires blood lead testing at ages 1 and 2.
• Pregnant individuals or those planning to become pregnant should also discuss testing with their healthcare provider.

If your child has been tested and results indicate lead poisoning, visit the New York State Department of Health’s website for resources and guidance.

For more information about lead exposure and pregnancy, visit the New York State Department of Health’s website. 

Below are steps you can take to minimize lead exposure:

• Inspect your home: Keep painted surfaces intact and repair peeling or flaking paint promptly.
• Maintain cleanliness: Wash children’s hands regularly—especially after play, before meals, and before bedtime. Use wet cleaning methods around the home to pick up dust, helping to keep children from being exposed to lead.
• Be informed: Find more tips for limiting exposure from the N.Y.S. Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

For questions about childhood lead poisoning or to request a lead inspection, please contact the Albany County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health at (518) 447-4620.

Our team is here to provide guidance, answer your questions, and help ensure your home is safe from lead hazards.

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

This program provides essential services to children and pregnant individuals with elevated blood lead levels in Albany County. It includes case management, follow-up care, education, and environmental lead investigations.

If lead hazards are identified, we work with property owners to ensure the home is made lead safe.

Childhood Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Program

This proactive program focuses on reducing lead hazards BEFORE a child or pregnant individual is affected.

• It serves specific high-risk areas in Albany within five targeted ZIP codes: 12202, 12206, 12208, 12209, and 12210.
• Homeowners and tenants can request FREE environmental lead investigations in homes located within one these areas where a child aged 6 years or younger, or a pregnant individual, resides.
• Residents in the focus area may receive a FREE cleaning kit if hazards are identified.

If lead hazards are identified, we work with property owners to ensure the home is made lead safe.

When investigating lead hazards, our Lead Risk Assessors use an X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer (XRF) to detect lead in painted surfaces.

They inspect surfaces throughout a home, identifying areas that are peeling, chipping, or flaking.

If hazards are identified, we collaborate with property owners to make the home lead safe.

For questions about childhood lead poisoning or to request a lead inspection, please contact the Albany County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health at (518) 447-4620.

Our team is here to provide guidance, answer your questions, and help ensure your home is safe from lead hazards.

If you work on homes built before 1978, you play a vital role in protecting tenants from lead exposure.

Renovation, repairs, or poor maintenance in these homes can disturb lead-based paint, releasing hazardous dust and paint chips.

Lead exposure is especially harmful to children under 6 and pregnant individuals, as it can occur through inhaling or swallowing lead dust or paint chips.

Proper precautions during your work can prevent health risks and ensure safety.

Renovation, repair, or painting projects in homes or buildings built before 1978 can generate hazardous lead dust. To protect residents, the EPA requires these projects to be conducted by lead-safe certified contractors in homes, child care facilities, and preschools.

The RRP rule generally does not apply to homeowners working on their own homes. However, it does apply if you rent out part or all of your home, run a childcare center in your home, or renovate and sell homes for profit.

Visit the EPA’s website to learn more about lead-safe certification and compliance with the RRP rule.

Our department, in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County, offers FREE EPA Lead Renovator Certification Classes. To register for this training, visit Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County’s website and navigate to the registration link.

To determine if you must be certified, review the EPA’s Frequently Asked Questions.

Federal law mandates that landlords with properties built before 1978 provide specific lead-related information to tenants before they move into a property. This includes:

• The EPA booklet Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home.
• Details about any known lead-based paint or lead hazards in the building, including records from evaluations of common areas or other units in multi-unit properties.
• A lead disclosure document, either as an attachment to the lease or included directly in the lease. This must feature a "Lead Warning Statement" and confirm compliance with notification requirements. For reference, view the Sample Lessor's Disclosure of Information (English) or Sample Lessor's Disclosure of Information (Spanish).

For questions about childhood lead poisoning or to request a lead inspection, please contact the Albany County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health at (518) 447-4620.

Our team is here to provide guidance, answer your questions, and help ensure homes are safe from lead hazards.

As a renter, you have the right to safe, healthy housing.

If you live in a property built before 1978, your landlord is required to:

• Provide information about identifying and controlling lead-based paint hazards.
• Notify you if the property contains lead-based paint.
• Ensure contractors working on the property are certified to use lead-safe practices.

If renovations, repainting, or repairs are being done:

• You must receive advance notice.
• Landlords must document your notification.
• Children and pregnant individuals should be out of the home any time painted surfaces are being worked on.
• Read the Renovate Right brochure for more information.

If your rental home has peeling or chipping paint, you may qualify for a FREE inspection. Even if lead is found, rent must still be paid.

Helpful Resources:

• New York State Tenants' Rights Guide
• Legal Aid Society
• City of Albany Division of Code Enforcement
• Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule Fact Sheet

As a homeowner, you play a vital role in protecting your household from hazardous lead-based paint. Many homes built before 1978 contain lead-based paint, and renovation or repair projects in these older houses can create lead dust or paint chips, which pose serious health risks to your family and neighbors.

Using Lead-Safe Practices

If you own and live in a pre-1978 home without tenants, you are not required to have EPA Lead Renovator certification to perform your own renovations. However, using lead-safe work practices is strongly encouraged to minimize lead dust and protect your family and neighbors. Visit the EPA's lead-safe guidance for DIYers.

If you have tenants or operate a childcare center in your home, EPA certification in lead-safe practices is mandatory.

Hiring a Certified Contractor

When hiring a contractor for work on a pre-1978 home, ensure they are EPA-certified in lead-safe renovation, repair, and painting practices. The EPA offers a searchable database to verify contractor certifications.

What happens if a child in your home has an elevated blood lead level?

If a child in your home is confirmed to have a blood lead level of 5 micrograms per deciliter or higher, our department is required by New York State law to conduct an environmental lead investigation. This includes evaluating both where the child lives and any dwelling that they spend more than eight hours per week.

If lead-based paint hazards are identified, our department will work with you to make your home lead safe.

For questions about childhood lead poisoning or to request a lead inspection, please contact the Albany County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health at (518) 447-4620.

Our team is here to provide guidance, answer your questions, and help ensure your home is safe from lead hazards.

Physicians play a crucial role in identifying and managing lead exposure in children. Key guidelines and resources include:

• Screening Accuracy: Mission Unleaded provides techniques to minimize contamination during blood collection for lead testing.
• Blood Lead Reference Value: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently uses a blood reference value of 3.5 µg/dL to identify children with elevated blood lead levels, based on the 97.5th percentile of blood lead levels among U.S. children aged 1-5 years (NHANES data, 2015–2018). This replaces the outdated "level of concern" terminology of 10 µg/dL.

Physicians should refer to the latest CDC recommendations for guidance on blood lead screening, reducing exposure, and educational interventions for affected children.

Additional Resources

• Guidelines for the identification and management of lead exposure in pregnant and lactating women (CDC, 2010)
• Educational interventions for children affected by lead (CDC, 2015)

For questions about childhood lead poisoning or to request a lead inspection, please contact the Albany County Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health at (518) 447-4620.

Our team is here to provide guidance, answer your questions, and help ensure homes are safe from lead hazards.

Albany Community Development Agency (ACDA)

ACDA promotes neighborhood revitalization by encouraging home ownership, funding home and community improvement projects, and offering workforce opportunities.

These initiatives aim to enhance the quality of life for low- to moderate-income households.

Explore ACDA's Home Improvement Programs.

City of Albany Lead Service Replacement Program

The Albany Water Board provides up to $2,000 in reimbursement for homeowners replacing lead water service lines.

This program is open to all homeowners, including landlords of small multi-unit properties and non-resident owners.

Learn more about the Lead Service Replacement Program

As part of the Governor’s commitment to eliminating childhood lead exposure in New York State, new legislation has established a statewide Lead Rental Registry Program.

This initiative aims to identify and address lead hazards in rental properties, ultimately increasing the number of lead-safe rental units in high-risk areas. Under New York State Public Health Law (PHL) §1377, the Department of Health (DOH) will create a comprehensive registry for residential dwellings with two or more units built before 1980, located in designated Communities of Concern. In Albany County, the Communities of Concern are located in the following zip codes: 12202, 12206, 12208, 12209, 12210.

The Lead Rental Registry will:

• Maintain records of these properties and their owners.
• Require routine lead hazard inspections and lead safety certifications.
• Ensure prompt remediation of identified lead hazards.

This program is a critical step toward safeguarding the health and well-being of families and children across New York State.

Learn more about what's coming and how to prepare: NYS Rental Registry & Proactive Lead Inspections.

The Leading in Lead Prevention Pilot Program, funded by New York State, is administered by the Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC) and the Office of Community Renewal (OCR) in collaboration with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).

This program offers financial assistance to owners of multi-family properties (two or more units) with identified lead paint hazards. The funding supports lead hazard remediation and related expenses, ensuring that both current and future tenants are safeguarded from the dangers of lead-based paint exposure.

This initiative represents a significant investment in protecting public health and promoting lead-safe housing across New York State.