Toxic Substances

Millions of American children have enough lead in their blood to affect their intelligence and behavior, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Because lead harms the developing brain and nervous system, lead exposure is especially dangerous to fetuses and young children. Federal lead reduction programs among three main agencies--the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and CDC--address some, but not all, of the most serious aspects of the lead-poisoning problem. Among the issues yet to be fully addressed are (1) testing children for elevated blood-lead levels, (2) removing lead-based paint from homes and schools, (3) relocating families during paint removal, (4) recycling lead, and (5) removing lead-contaminated soil. Information on the extent to which these matters are being dealt with is limited, and recent data characterize state and local lead-poisoning prevention programs as patchwork in scope, raising concerns about how well they are handling the lead-poisoning problem.

GAO found that: (1) although federal activities to reduce childhood lead poisoning are extensive, they do not fully implement the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) recommendations; (2) federal activities include enforcing environmental standards to prevent lead pollution, undertaking research programs, and providing financial assistance to identify and remove lead hazards; (3) existing federal programs do not constitute the coordinated national approach that CDC envisioned for identifying lead-poisoned children; (4) CDC administers a grant program to provide funds for lead testing, but funding is limited and CDC targets the funds geographically; (5) other federal programs also provide funds that can be used for lead screening; (6) the Department of Housing and Urban Development funds a number of programs that can include residential lead-based paint abatement and relocation assistance; (7) there are no federal programs to provide assistance for abatement in schools or to remove or treat lead-contaminated soil; and (8) 47 states have state or local lead poisoning programs, although the nature and extent of their prevention activities varies widely.