Resources on Lead Exposure for Communities

EPA has developed a variety of resources to enable individuals, communities, industry, certified lead professionals and Tribal, state, territorial and local governments and organizations to help others better understand their risk of lead exposure, lead’s health impacts and recommended protective actions.

Outreach and Education Materials

• Lead Outreach Materials: Find free downloadable pamphlets, guides, fact sheets, infographics, educational curriculum and other materials on lead. 
• National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week: Access materials created by EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for this annual event. 
• Protect Your Tap: A Quick Check for Lead: This resource is an online step-by-step guide to help people identify lead pipes, called lead service lines, in their homes. It also provides tips on actions to reduce lead exposure from drinking water, information on certified laboratories for water testing and resources to learn more.
• Lead and Other Heavy Metals in Cultural Products: This webpage includes information on the risks from heavy metal exposure from cultural and religious products, including cosmetics, religious powers, spices, traditional medicines and cookware.

Resources for Local Governments

Funding Opportunities for Lead Service Line Replacement

EPA’s funding and financing programs can help reduce the cost of lead pipe replacement projects and thereby reduce costs to customers.

Find funding and technical assistance opportunities.

• Local Lead Action Plan: The Local Lead Action Plan (LLAP) Guide is a framework that provides local government officials with resources to identify lead issues in their city, town, community, county or other geographic area (local area), then develop a sustainable, targeted action plan using the LLAP Template. The guide is a voluntary tool that local government officials can use to organize their approach to addressing the specific lead issues impacting their local area, including interactive checklists to better understand local lead issues , a customizable action plan template to explore potential solutions, implementation best practices and resources and strategies for success.

Mapping and Research

• Lead Exposure Risk Mapping: Data mapping can be used to identify high lead exposure risk locations in the United States. In October 2022, EPA's Lead Strategy included information about developing and applying a lead data mapping “blueprint” to identify locations with high potential lead exposure risk.
• EPA's Lead Research: EPA conducts critical research on lead in support of its work to reduce exposure. Using a risk paradigm that includes both risk characterization and risk management, EPA connects environmental exposures, adverse outcomes and risk reduction actions. The Agency is currently conducting research across the environment and at critical life stages in our efforts to understand and mitigate risks associated with exposure to lead.

Other Federal Resources

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes works to create new ways to improve homes, share important information that people can use to make their homes healthier, fund programs that help make homes safer and inform the public on how to prepare for and adapt to extreme temperatures and disasters.
• The Lead Safe Housing Rule (LSHR) Toolkit helps practitioners understand and comply with the federal lead rules. The LSHR applies to almost all ownership, rentals and sales of pre-1978 housing, regardless of occupants or federal assistance, to keep children and families safe from lead.
• The Evaluating Lead-Based Paint in HUD-Assisted Housing Videos cover the highlights of completing key lead-based paint evaluations to meet compliance with HUD’s Lead Safe Housing Rule for pre-1978 HUD-assisted housing. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

• CDC's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program: This program supports state and local public health departments with funds for surveillance and prevention of lead exposure.
• Communication Resources and Tools: This webpage includes fact sheets, infographics, videos, activity books and other materials on lead poisoning prevention.
• Soil Screen, Health, Outreach and Partnership (SoilSHOP) Events bring same day, soil screening to inform community members about lead soil contamination and share tips for reducing potential exposures.

President's Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children

In the nearly three decades of its existence, the President's Task Force on Children's Health has addressed issues such as childhood asthma, unintentional injuries, lead poisoning, developmental disorders, childhood cancer and impacts of extreme weather events and disasters.

• Federal Lead Resources Guide: This resource from the President's Task Force on Children's Health is a collection of select federal lead-related resources, programs and assistance opportunities for use by the public.
• EPA's Leadership under the Federal Lead Action Plan: A product of the President's Task Force, the Federal Lead Action Plan is a blueprint for reducing lead exposure and associated harms through collaboration among federal agencies and with a range of stakeholders.