Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

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New York State Lead Rental Registry Law is in effect in Spring Valley as of November 3, 2025.

The Lead Rental Registry Program has launched in the 10977 zip code. Under this law, rental properties with 2 or more units, built before 1980 in 10977, must be registered, inspected and certified lead safe every 3 years.

To schedule a lead inspection, email LeadFreeKids@co.rockland.ny.us or call 845-364-3305.

Rockland County also awards grants up to $40,000 per unit to eliminate lead hazards at these rental properties. View the Leading in Lead brochure or contact us to learn more.

To register a property, visit: Lead Safe NY To learn more, visit: NYS Lead Rental Registry

children and lead paint

The Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) is a grant-funded program that prevents and treats lead poisoning in children up to age 18.

lead sources pie chart Studies show that no amount of lead exposure is safe for children. Lead is a metal that can harm children when it gets into their bodies. Lead can harm a young child's growth, behavior, and ability to learn. It can also cause anemia, kidney damage, and hearing loss. There are many sources of lead- (English, Spanish, Haitian Creole). Lead can be found in dust, air, water, soil, and in some products used in and around our homes.

Children younger than 6 years old are more likely to get lead poisoned than any other age group. Most often, children get lead poisoning from breathing in or swallowing dust from old lead paint, which can be found on floors and windowsills, hands, and toys. Lead can also be passed from a mother to baby during pregnancy.

Home Assessments

The RCDOH will conduct environmental lead investigations for Rockland County Lead Free Kids children whose blood lead levels are equal to or greater than 5 µg/dL, and in homes built prior to 1980, in an effort to identify sources of lead exposure. A Lead Risk Assessor will investigate a child's home and/or other places where the child spends time. Environmental investigations may consist of visual assessment of risk areas, surface paint evaluation, water sampling, and/or other case-specific actions.

Based on the results of the environmental lead investigation, the Lead Risk Assessor will provide the owner or landlord with recommendations on how to address lead hazards in the home.

If you have questions, please contact us at LeadFreeKids@co.rockland.ny.us.

Ways to Prevent Lead Poisoning

Keep children away from peeling paint, broken plaster, and away from remodeling and renovation sites. Old paint can have lead in it.
Before making repairs in a home built before 1978, learn how to work safely and keep dust levels down. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides many brochures and guides on working lead safe.
Wash your child's hands and face after play, before meals, and before bed to rinse off any lead dust or dirt.

Wash toys, stuffed animals, pacifiers, and bottles with soap and water often.
Mop floors often, and use damp paper towels to clean window wells and sills.

child peeling paint off window

Don't bring lead home with you from work. People who work at construction, plumbing, painting, and certain other jobs can be exposed to lead.
Wash work clothes separately.
Use cold water, not hot, for infant formula or cooking. Let the cold water run for at least a minute before using to flush out lead from old plumbing.

washing hands

Avoid using herbs, spices, medicines, and cosmetics imported from the Middle East, Latin America, India, and China. Visit the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to learn more about lead in food and foodwares.
Store food from open cans in glass or plastic containers.
Avoid using dishes and pottery from Latin America, India, and China, which may have lead in their glazes. Don't use chipped or cracked dishes to store or serve food.
Be careful with your hobbies. Some crafts call for use of paints, glazes, and solder, which may contain lead. Learn more about possible lead dangers while working on a hobby.
Avoid having children play in soil especially around the foundation of old buildings and near roadways. Use a sandbox instead.

pottery

Nutrition

When there is nutritious food in the body, it is difficult for lead to be absorbed.
Eat a variety of these nutritious foods:

More information on good nutrition tips to help reduce the effects of lead are available in English, Spanish, and Yiddish.

Screening & Testing

Lead Screening for Children

New York State law requires doctors to:

test all children at age 1 and again at age 2 with a blood lead test.
at every well child visit, assess all children ages 6 months to 6 years for risk of lead exposure. Also get a blood lead test if children have had contact with lead.
report point-of-care blood lead test results to the NYSDOH in accordance with guidance.
give the child's parent or guardian the result of the blood lead test;
provide anticipatory guidance to all parents or guardians of children as part of routine care, which may include the Lead Poisoning is a Danger for Every Baby and Child.

Children age 36 to 72 months of age with a history of blood lead levels of 5 µg/dL or greater should receive follow-up blood lead testing annually.

Lead Screening for Childcare and Pre-Schools

New York State law requires each childcare provider licensed, certified, or approved by any state or local agency to:

prior to or within 3 months of initial enrollment, obtain a copy of a certificate of lead screening for any child at least 1 year of age but under 6 years of age, and retain such document until one year after the child is no longer enrolled.
when no documentation of lead screening exists, the child shall not be excluded from attending preschool or childcare; however the childcare provider, principal, teacher, owner, or person in charge shall provide the parent or guardian of the child with information on lead poisoning and lead poisoning prevention, and refer the parent or guardian to the child's primary health care provider to obtain a blood lead test.

Drinking Water

For general information about sources of lead in drinking water and how you can reduce levels visit NYSDOH website.

Private Well Testing

New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) labs are certified to perform lead testing on private wells. Find an ELAP certified lab near you.

Schools and Childcare Facilities

Since 2016, New York State law has required public schools and BOCES to test drinking water for lead and prevent exposure from faucets with high levels. The NYSDOH website provides more information on the law, testing requirements, test results, and guidance manuals for lead in drinking water.

Home Remodeling & Repairs

Lead paint and dust increases risk of lead poisoning

Pre-1980 homes remain the leading cause of lead exposure from peeling and chipping lead paint and dust. Yet, these exposures are preventable.

Information for Homeowners, Landlords, and Contractors

Renovation, repair, or painting projects in older homes can easily create dangerous lead dust. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that projects that disturb lead paint in homes, child care facilities, and preschools built before 1978 be performed by lead-safe certified contractors. The rule applies to all building owners and managers who rent all or part of your home, operate a child care center in your home, or if you buy, renovate, and sell homes for profit (e.g., a house flipper).

Contractors should be familiar with the law and give their clients the pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools.

The EPA provides contractors with more information about regulations, where contractors can get the training they need, and lists of certified contractors.

RCDOH offers a FREE Renovate, Repair & Painting (RRP) certification course, for homeowners, landlords, contractors and tenants. See the RRP flyer to register and see a list of class dates.

Information for Do-It-Yourselfers

EPA recommends homeowners hire a lead-safe certified contractor when doing renovation, repair, and painting projects in older homes. Older homes can contain lead paint, often under newer paint. If you plan to do the work yourself, it's important to do the job safely. Lead paint dust and chips are dangerous, especially for babies and young children.

WORK SMART, WET, and CLEAN to reduce lead dust

Prepare the work area and remove furniture. Use plastic sheeting to cover floors and anything that can't be removed from the areas. Close windows and cover doorways to work areas with plastic sheeting. Plastic sheeting must be thrown out after the job is done.
Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including a painter’s hat, coveralls, shoe covers, and use an N-95 respirator when working.
Avoid removing old paint. Replace building components if possible.
If paint removal is necessary, avoid sanding, burning, and grinding. Use water while working to reduce dust and fumes. For example, use a water spray bottle to wet any surface to be scraped or sanded.
Clean up after the work is complete. Use a wet mop with a removable head and then throw out the mop head after you’re done. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter followed by mopping to ensure surfaces are dust free. Shop vacs should not be used for cleanup because they can spread lead dust.
Children and pregnant people should stay out of work areas until the work area is clean.

Visit the EPA or NYSDOH for more important lead hazard mitigation information.

Pregnancy & Lactation

What you need to know:
Lead can hurt pregnant women and their developing fetuses. It can damage the brain, kidneys, nerves and other parts of the body. It can make it hard to get pregnant, and cause miscarriage or stillbirth. Lead can affect children’s behavior and make it harder for them to learn.

Lead can be stored in a person’s body for years, and then passed from the pregnant person to baby. A product can contain lead, even if it is not listed as an ingredient.

What you can do:
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, ask your health care provider about a blood lead test.

If you have ever had a blood lead test result of 5 µg/dL or above, your new baby should get a lead test before leaving the hospital.

Resist the urge to eat nonfood items. Chalk, dirt, and pottery can contain lead.

What is my lead risk? If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, ask your doctor about a blood lead test.

Do you live in a home or apartment built before 1978?
Have there been any recent home improvements or repairs where you live?
Were you born, or have you ever lived, in another country?
Do you use medicines, supplements, cosmetics, or spices from another country?
Do you or someone with whom you live have a job (such as construction) or hobby (such as stained glass or making bullets) than can bring you into contact with lead?
Do you use pottery that was made in another country, painted china, or leaded glass?
Have you ever eaten or chewed crushed pottery, soil, paint chips, clay, or other things that aren't food?

Visit NYSDOH for more information, resources, and recommendations for pregnant and lactating mothers.

pregnant mother

Blood Lead Level

A blood lead test tells you how much lead is in your child's blood. The lower the test result, the better. A test result equal to or greater than 5 µg/dL using blood from a fingertip should be checked again with a second test, using blood taken from a vein (often in the arm). If the second result is still high, you should follow the steps below.

blood lead level test result next steps

More information on blood lead test results are available in Chinese, English, Haitian Creole, Spanish, and Yiddish.

Resources

Email RCDOH with questions or to schedule a free home assessment
Lead in Your Body
Lead Prevention Guide- English, Spanish
Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right
Nutrition Infographic- English, Spanish
NYSDOH- NYS Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
NYSDOH- Printable Lead resources
RCDOH Lead Brochure- English, Spanish
RRP Certification Training
Sources of Lead
US Consumer Production Safety Commission- Recalled products
US Environmental Protection Agency- Federal Lead website
What You Need to Know About Working with Lead-Based Paint

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

Who can get lead poisoning?
Anyone can get lead poisoning, but children and 6 years of age or younger are at the highest risk, because they often put their hands and toys (that may be contaminated with lead) in their mouth, their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults, and their developing brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Hand-to-mouth behavior is the most common way children ingest lead. Children and adults can also inhale lead particles that may be found in the air.
What are the health effects of lead poisoning in children?
Lead interferes with the brain's development and function. It also can cause serious damage to the kidneys, liver and red blood cells. Children are in more danger than adults because their bodies are still developing.

Lead poisoning can cause:
- Slowed Development
- Learning or Behavior Problems
- Lower IQ
- Hearing Loss
- Restlessness
What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?
The only way to tell if someone is lead poisoned is by doing a blood test. New York State Department of Health requires that all children ages 1 and 2 receive a blood test, and that parents of children up to the age of six be asked a series of Risk Assessment Questions to find out if they have a risk of being exposed to lead in their environment. Recent research finds that there is no safe level of lead in the blood. Children often do not look or feel sick when blood lead levels are in the lower range of lead poisoning.

At high levels, symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Stomach Aches
- Nausea
- Tiredness
- Irritability
A child with these symptoms may appear to have the flu or a virus. The only way to tell if a child is poisoned is by doing a blood lead test.
What is the most common source of lead exposure?
There are many sources of lead, but the most common source of lead is cracking, peeling, chipping or otherwise deteriorating lead-based paint and dust particles. Lead-based paint on windows, doors and other areas where surfaces rub against each other create dust and may cause lead particles to be released into the environment.
Are there other sources of lead exposure?
Other potential sources of lead include soil, water, occupations/hobbies, imported ceramics or foods, some traditional/folk remedies, ethnic spices, herbs, and medicines, etc. NYSDOH provides information in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

Imported children's furniture, toys, jewelry made in countries outside of the U.S. may also contain lead. The Consumer Product Safety Commission lists product recalls.
How do I pay for my child's blood lead test?
Insurance plans and HMOs cover lead tests. You can apply for health insurance by calling 1-855-355-5777 or contact Community Health Centers that have a sliding fee scale for children who are uninsured.