By WMBD TV

BLOOMINGTON – According to the CDC, homes built before 1978 could have lead paint in them.

Lead paint can pose a myriad of health risks, including damage to the brain, kidneys, nerves, and blood. According to the CDC, Children under 6 years old and pregnant people are most at risk for lead exposure. Exposure can lead to both physical symptoms and developmental delays.

To combat this health risk, the City of Bloomington is implementing its Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program. To participate in the program, residents must live in the 61701 zip code and have children under 6 years old living in the home. Eligible properties must also be built before 1978.

Income eligibility is based on household size, which must fall at 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program will prioritize children with high lead blood levels and pregnant women.

William Besser, the grants manager for the City of Bloomington, explained the program.

“We will have an assessment completed to identify the lead-based paint hazards and then the lead-based paint is either removed or there’s some kind of interim control use to eliminate it from becoming a health hazard,” Besser said.

He said the city is taking this health concern seriously.

“Lead-based paint is a real health hazard and the city is diligently using our community development programs for housing rehabilitation to help remove those hazards,” Besser said. “We are protecting kids and making sure that they have a healthy environment to grow up and learn.”

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