PHILADELPHIA LEAD SAFE CERTIFICATE

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The City of Philadelphia is working to reduce the number of children with elevated lead levels, and to help families whose homes contain lead paint and lead pipes. Laws, regulations, and an advisory group protect families and children from the harmful effects of lead. When property owners refuse to make necessary repairs to protect children from lead, they can end up in Lead Court. lead test philadelphia lead safe certificate lead testing

Most three-year-olds in Philadelphia have been tested for elevated lead at least once. Between 2011 and 2021, 30-40% of children had been tested by one year of age. Another 30-40% were tested between one and two, and an additional 8-12% were tested between two and three.

In Philadelphia today, elevated blood lead levels among children have become less common. In 2011, about 18% of screened three-year-olds ever had an elevated blood lead test (5 ug/dL or higher). In 2021, this declined to about 6%. About 4% of three-year-olds in 2011 ever had an elevated blood lead test of 10 ug/dL or higher compared to about 2% in 2021. philadelphia lead safe certificate lead testing

In 2017, Mayor Jim Kenney released the final report and recommendations from the Philadelphia Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Group. This report supplements the commitments the City made to reduce lead poisoning in its “Lead-Free Kids: Preventing Lead Poisoning in Philadelphia” report, released in December 2016. philadelphia lead safe certificate lead test lead testing

The City of Philadelphia has laws and regulations to protect residents from unsafe living conditions. These laws and regulations ensure that housing is safe and that landlords are accountable. philadelphia lead safe certificate lead test lead testing

• Landlords are required to test and certify rental properties as lead-safe or lead-free, regardless of a child’s age, in order to:
  • Execute a new or renewed lease or
  • Receive or renew a rental license.

Learn more about this regulation.

• The School District of Philadelphia conducts water testing at every school on a five year cycle. This helps to guarantee that students have access to safe drinking water at school. All water testing results are posted online for public view.
• The School District of Philadelphia must keep its buildings safe from environmental hazards, including asbestos, mold, and lead paint.
• All schools and licensed day care facilities caring for 13 or more children are required to test all potable water outlets for lead and submit results to the Department of Public Health.
• The City of Philadelphia has other lead paint laws and regulations to protect residents from unsafe living conditions.  The City provides resources to landlords to help them keep their properties lead free or lead safe. philadelphia lead safe certificate lead test lead testing

Landlords are required to test and certify rental properties as lead-safe or lead-free regardless of a child’s age, in order to:

• Execute a new or renewed lease or
• Receive or renew a rental license.

Learn more about this regulation.

If the Department of Public Health tests a home for lead paint and finds that there is a hazard, the landlord should hire an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified firm to fix it. These companies employ certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers and follow lead-safe work practices. If a landlord or homeowner does not repair the lead hazards in their property, they may be referred to Lead Court. philadelphia lead safe certificate lead test lead testing