Replacing Windows Reduces Childhood Lead Exposure: Results From a State-Funded Program

Despite considerable evidence that window replacement reduces childhood lead exposure and improves energy conservation and market value, federal policies in childhood lead poisoning, home improvement, and weatherization programs all tend to discourage it.

To evaluate a state bond-financed pilot program that replaced old lead-contaminated windows with new lead-free energy efficient ones.

Pre-/post evaluation in 1 urban and 1 rural jurisdiction.

Low-income households (n = 96).

Dust wipe sampling, visual assessment, and physical and mental self-reported health at baseline and 1 year.

Geometric mean lead dust (PbD) from baseline to 1 year for interior floors, interior sills, and exterior troughs declined by 44%, 88%, and 98%, respectively (P < .001); 1 year later, levels remained well below baseline but rose slightly compared with clearance sampling just after intervention. PbD declined significantly on both sills and troughs in both the urban and rural jurisdictions from baseline to 1 year. On interior floors, PbD significantly declined by 58% (P = .003) in the rural area and 25% (P = .38) in the urban area, where the decline did not reach statistical significance. Households reported improvements in uncomfortable indoor temperatures (P < .001) and certain health outcomes. Economic benefits were estimated at $5 912 219 compared with a cost of $3 451 841, resulting in a net monetary benefit of $2 460 378. Residents reported that they were "very satisfied" with the window replacement work (87%).

Local and state governments should fund and operate window replacement programs to eliminate a major source of childhood lead exposure, improve energy bills, increase home market value, and create local construction and industrial jobs. Federal agencies should encourage (not discourage) replacement of old windows contaminated with lead. In budget climates such as Illinois with reduced public expenditures, making wise investments such as lead-safe window replacement is more important than ever.