Window replacement and residential lead paint hazard control 12 years later

Window replacement is a key method of reducing childhood lead exposure, but the long-termeffectiveness has not been previously evaluated. Windows have the highest levels of interior leadpaint and dust compared to other building components. Our objective was to conduct a follow-up studyof residential window replacement and lead hazard control 12 years after homes were enrolled in anevaluation of the HUD Lead Hazard Control Grant Program, sampling settled lead dust in housing infour cities (n¼189 homes). Previous work evaluated lead hazard controls up to 6 years afterintervention using dust lead measurements and two years after intervention using both dust andblood lead data. But the earlier work could not examine the effect of window replacement over thelonger time period examined here: 12 years. The individual homes were assigned to one of threecategories, based on how many windows had been replaced: all replacement, some replacement, ornon-replacement. Windows that were not replaced were repaired. We controlled for covariates such assite, housing condition, presence of lead paint, and season using longitudinal regression modeling.Adjusted floor and sill dust lead geometric mean dust lead loadings declined at least 85% from pre-intervention to 12 years after the intervention for homes with all replacement windows, some windowsreplaced and no windows replaced. Twelve years after intervention, homes with all replacementwindows had 41% lower interior floor dust lead, compared to non-replacement homes (1.4 versus2.4mg/ft2,po0.001), and window sill dust lead was 51% lower (25 versus 52mg/ft2,p¼0.006) whilecontrolling for covariates. Homes with some windows replaced had interior floor and window sill dustlead loadings that were 28% (1.7 versus 2.4mg/ft2,p¼0.19) and 37% (33 versus 52mg/ft2,p¼0.07)lower, respectively, compared to non-replacement homes. The net economic benefit of windowreplacement compared to window repair (non-replacement) is $1700–$2000 per housing unit. Homesin which all windows were replaced had significantly lower lead dust. New windows are also likely toreduce energy use and improve home value. Lead-safe window replacement is an important element oflead hazard control, weatherization, renovation and housing investment strategies and should beimplemented broadly to protect children.