Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health, is the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP).
As stated on the CLPPP website, they "help prevent, screen, diagnose and treat childhood lead poisoning...work to eliminate sources of poisoning through research and educational, epidemiological, and clinical and environmental activities."
Childhood Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning in children is a serious condition and can affect the brain, kidneys, nervous system and overall growth development. Children most at risk to lead poisoning are those between the ages of 9 months to 6 years. Learn more about the symptoms, facts, exposure risks, as well as myths versus facts on the CLPPP website.
State law requires a lead test to be taken on children 3-4 times by age four. You may have noticed/remember having this test taken during a visit to your child's routine health care visit. To learn more about the test and an explanation of blood level results, as well as information on how to treat lead poisoning, click here.
The State publishes community level screening and blood level prevalence data. Reports from 2010 - 2020 can be found here. Or you can read Foxborough's 2020 Lead Summary Report.
Lead Testing and Removal
There are many sources of lead. Most common is lead paint (lead was a common ingredient in paint before 1978) and was often used in painting homes (inside and out). Lead was also used in plumbing before 1986.
Fact: According to State data, the percentage of housing units in Foxborough built before 1978 is 57%.
Do you live in a home built before 1978? Lead inspections and/or removal/remediation may have already occurred on the property. To find your home's lead history, search the State's database. They recently changed their "search" database and query mechanisms, so continue reading the website for tips on how to navigate your search.
Looking for a licensed lead inspector to conduct a lead inspection of your home? The State is the keeper of this list. NOTE: This list changes frequently! In order to provide you with the most up to date list, after being directed to the CLPPP website, scroll down and click on "Find a licensed lead inspector in your area".
Removing Lead
If lead is found in your home, the hazard must be eliminated by de-leading. Depending on the hazard, there are different ways to remediate the existing lead hazard. For example, encapsulating is an approved remediation. Learn more about encapsulating.
The State differentiates between Low-Risk De-leading & Moderate-Risk De-leading. Depending on the job, a property owner may be able to do the work. De-leading always requires State-specific training no matter how small the job is.
Learn more about the process and what is required BEFORE you start any de-leading project. You can also read this CLPPP brochure for a broad overview of de-leading projects.
For information on financial assistance for your de-leading project, click here.
Additional Resources
*MA DPH Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Main Website
*Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control (105 CMR 460.000) - MA Lead Law
*CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Main Website