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Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention & Primary Initiative Programs

What is Primary Prevention

  • In public health, “Primary Prevention” means to prevent something – like a child’s exposure to poisonous lead – from happening at all.
  • When a child is exposed to lead and becomes poisoned, everything that is done to reduce the child’s exposure and limit potential damage to the child’s growth and development is “Secondary Prevention.”
  • Lead poisoning is 100% preventable. Primary prevention is the key.  The Erie County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program assists children and their families who are affected by lead poisoning, but our hope is for no child to be poisoned by lead. 

Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Program (Lead Primary) Lead is harmful

The Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Program (Lead Primary) activities are focused in neighborhoods that have been identified as “Communities of Concern” and "Areas of High Risk" where children are at highest risk for lead poisoning.  This program provides information and tools that families, homeowners and property owners need to prevent children from being exposed to dangerous lead hazards.

  • Lead Primary carries out activities in 1, 2, 3 or 4 unit family homes in zip codes identified by the New York State Department of Health as “Communities of Concern” for lead poisoning. Children who reside in these zip codes are at highest risk for lead poisoning. These zip codes are 14201, 14204, 14206, 14207, 14208, 14210, 14211, 14212, 14213, 14214 and 14215.  Click here for a map of Communities of Concern.
  • Sometimes neighborhoods in these zip codes are identified to receive a concentrated intervention. These neighborhoods are called “Areas of High Risk" and are designated as such by the Erie County Commissioner of Health, based upon established NY State guidelines.   Each home in the “area of high risk” receives an exterior inspection, and in some cases, an interior inspection and a lead education visit for the occupant. Repairs, utilizing lead safe work practices, must be made to any identified lead hazards.
  • Lead Primary also works with Community Partners to make houses lead safe. For example, Lead Primary works with Section 8 Housing inspectors and with other community organizations such as the Tool Library, to assist property owners make their homes and rental units lead safe.  See Lead Safe Tool Borrowing Program for more information.  

Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Initiative (Primary Initiative) Lead can be found throughout a child's environment Homes built before 1978 (when lead-based paints were banned) probably contain lead-based paint. When the paint peels and cracks, it makes lead dust. Children can be poisoned when they swallow or breathe in lead dust. Certain water pipes may contain lead. Lead can be found in some products such as toys and jewelry. Lead is sometimes in candies imported from other countries or traditional home remedies. Certain jobs and hobbies involve working with lead-based products, like stain glass work, and may cause parents to bring lead into the home.

The Lead Poisoning Primary Prevention Initiative (Primary Initiative) is a county-wide program available in all areas of Erie County.  This program provides information and tools that families, homeowners and property owners need to prevent children from being exposed to dangerous lead hazards.  Those who can participate in this program include:

  • Anyone (property owners, tenants, and landlords) living or owning property in the program's target zip codes or families with young children county-wide
  • Children living in the home under the age of six or who spend 6 hours a week or more in the home
  • 1, 2, 3 or 4 family homes that were built before 1978
  • NOTE: Homeowners in the designated “areas of high risk” are automatically participants.

Related Programs & Resources

FAQ’s

Contact 

Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH)
Environmental Health Division
503 Kensington Avenue (see map)
Buffalo, NY 14214
Phone: 716-961-6800 
Fax: 716-961-6880
Email: leadsafe@erie.gov

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