Healthy Communities Start with Lead-Safe Homes: NYC’s Housing and Health Agencies Launch Weeklong Campaign to Prevent Lead Poisoning Across the Five Boroughs
From October 18th to the 25th, HPD, DOHMH, and DEP Team Up to Host a Series of Educational Events for Tenants and Landlords on Lead Prevention
The Campaign Aims to Raise Awareness and Continue Reducing Childhood Lead Exposure, Following a 93% Decline Since 2005
Adams Administration Releases ‘Delivering on Commitment: The 2025 Lead Compliance Report’, a Follow-Up to LeadFreeNYC 2023 Report, Showcasing the City’s Ongoing Lead Compliance Efforts and Commitment to Keeping Communities Safe from Lead Exposure
October 17, 2025 — Lead is a silent threat to the health and well-being of some of New York’s most vulnerable residents: our children. For over 40 years, New York City has been a leader protecting children from the negative consequence of lead poisoning. The city’s efforts have resulted in a 93% decline in childhood lead exposure since 2005 while providing unparalleled services to children and families affected by lead.
In recognition of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW), the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host a series of in-person and virtual events from October 18 to October 25, 2025. These events, in collaboration with partner agencies and organizations citywide, aim to educate New Yorkers about lead hazards and the essential measures needed to prevent exposure, as highlighted in Mayor Adams’s LeadFreeNYC report, Taking the Lead on Lead.
"A safer city that is the best place to raise a family means ensuring the safest living conditions for our youngest New Yorkers, especially those living in our public housing units," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "This National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, we are pleased to highlight all the work our administration has done to root out dangerous lead exposure in our housing stock — leading to a 93 percent decline in childhood lead exposure since 2005. I commend the Health Department and all of our partners for working toward building a safer, more healthy New York City."
"National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is an important reminder that protecting children from lead requires relentless coordination and commitment. Here in New York City, we have built one of the most comprehensive prevention programs in the country, and our newly published Lead Compliance Report shows how those efforts are working — from stronger enforcement and compliance wins to more targeted abatement and outreach," said Citywide Lead Compliance Officer Jean-Claude LeBec. "While challenges remain, our progress reflects the strength of a citywide partnership, and I am proud that New York City continues to lead the nation in working toward a future where every child grows up safe, healthy, and free from lead exposure.”
“Lead poisoning is a preventable public health issue, and we are committed to protecting New York City’s families.” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, we are proud to work alongside city agencies to raise awareness about lead hazards in homes and communities and to share prevention strategies that families can use to protect themselves. We are excited for this week of events!”
“National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is a powerful reminder that the health and future of our families begin at home,” said Acting HPD Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “Protecting families from lead exposure is not the work of one agency or one week, it takes all of us. Every test conducted, every emergency repair made, and every conversation that raises awareness brings us closer to a city where no child suffers from something so preventable. Every New Yorker, in every borough, deserves to grow up in a home that supports their health, and their potential—it's a foundation that tenants, landlords, community leaders, and city agencies can all agree on.”
“New York City has never had a case of lead poisoning traced to drinking water — and we intend to keep it that way,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Our water is delivered lead-free, but lead in internal plumbing and privately-owned service lines can introduce lead into the drinking water. We’re pleased to join with HPD and DOHMH to educate New Yorkers about what they can do to reduce their risk of lead exposure at home.”
Lead-Free Living: Hands-On Help for Tenants and Landlords, Wherever You Are
Throughout the week, HPD, DOHMH, and DEP will host multiple in-person events, in partnership with community organizations across all five boroughs, to distribute educational materials on lead poisoning prevention. At these events, information will be available for parents, tenants, and property owners on their role in preventing lead exposure in homes. Children also will receive backpacks, comic books, toys, stories, and other goodies. This year’s in-person events include HPD’s Outreach Van and the DOHMH education staff visiting the following locations. DEP staff, discussing lead in water, will also be available at the 196 Albany Avenue, Brooklyn, and the 825 East 233rd Street, Bronx, events.
Saturday, October 18
Manhattan
J. Hood Wright Park, 351 Fort Washington Avenue
- Tabling Event, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday, October 19
Queens
34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition, 93-11 34th Avenue
- Tabling Event, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, October 20
Queens
Unity Family Enrichment Center (FEC), 111-20 Jamaica Avenue
- Tabling Event, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- English Presentation, noon to 1 p.m.
- Spanish Presentation, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 21
Bronx
NYC H+H North Central Bronx, 3424 Kossuth Avenue
- Tabling Event, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Graham Windham Family Enrichment Center (FEC), 940 Garrison Avenue
- English Presentation, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Queens
34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition, 93-11 34th Avenue
- Tabling Event, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Unity Family Enrichment Center (FEC), 111-20 Jamaica Avenue
- Bengali Presentation, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Urdu Presentation, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, October 22
Bronx
The William Lloyd Garrison School (P.S./M.S. 031), 250 E 156th Street
- Tabling Event,1 p.m. to 4 p.m.,
Location: Morris Heights Health Center (Melrose), 779 Melrose Avenue
- Tabling Event, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, October 23
Brooklyn
Creative Learning Academy, 196 Albany Avenue
- Tabling Event, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Morris Heights Health Center (Flatbush), 1095 Flatbush Avenue
- Tabling Event, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, October 24
Bronx
Morris Heights Health Center (Vanguard), 825 East 233rd Street, Bronx
- Tabling Event, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.,
Staten Island
Staten Island Recreation, 50 Bard Avenue Walker Park Halloween
- Tabling Event, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 25
Bronx
St. Barnabas Hospital Health System, 4422 Third Avenue (Entrance on 183rd Street) Trunk and Treat
- Tabling Event, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brooklyn
Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID, 7209 Fifth Avenue Halloween Fest - Trunk and Treat
- Tabling Event, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, October 23
- Lead in Drinking Water, Housing and Lead Based Paint: an Overview of NYC Rules and Lead Exposures in NYC (English)
- Time: 10 a.m. to noon
- Audience: Homeowners, landlords, tenants, day laborers, and community residents
- Link to register
- Lead Poisoning Prevention and HPD Inspection Overview (English)
- Time: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Audience: Parents, tenants, community residents, and agency staff
- Link to register
Lead 101: Uncovering the Hidden Dangers in Your Home
Lead is a harmful metal that, despite declining trends, poses a preventable public health concern for all New Yorkers, especially children and pregnant people. Peeling paint and its dust are the primary sources of lead exposure for young children, who may ingest it from windowsills and floors, leading to learning and behavioral problems. For adults, consumer products and job-related exposures, particularly in the construction industry, pose a risk for lead poisoning and can cause various health issues, including cardiovascular issues, miscarriages, and infertility.
To prevent lead poisoning in your home, it is important to take necessary precautions, including:
- If you notice peeling or damaged paint, report it to your building’s owner or managing agent immediately. If they fail to act, or the work is done unsafely, report the problem online or by calling 311.
- Be sure to wash floors, windowsills, hands, and toys often.
- Remove shoes before entering your home, and if someone in your household works in construction, wash their clothes separately from the family laundry.
- Avoid using products from other countries that may contain lead, such as certain foods and spices, medicines, ceramics, cosmetics, toys, and amulets. For more information, visit nyc.gov/hazardousproducts.
- When drinking, cooking, and making baby formula, use only cold tap water and run the water for at least 30 seconds until it is noticeably colder before using it. Call 311 to obtain a free lead test kit for drinking water. Results will be received within 30 days.
While the City continues to spread awareness and reduce exposure for all New Yorkers, it’s crucial to continue to test for lead. A blood test for lead is the only way to find out if you or your child has an elevated blood lead level. In New York State, children must be tested for lead poisoning at ages 1 and 2 and screened for risk up to age 6. Ask your doctor about testing older children if you think they may have been exposed to lead. Pregnant people should be assessed for lead exposure at their first prenatal visit. If you are at risk for lead exposure due to your job, hobby, or use of certain products, speak with your doctor about getting a blood lead test. Call 311 for help finding a doctor or clinic.
Property Owners: Your Responsibilities Under NYC’s Lead Laws
Property owners can learn more about their responsibilities by accessing HPD’s webinar series on compliance requirements, available on HPD's Lead-Based Paint page. Failure to meet these legal obligations can result in emergency repairs conducted by HPD, with costs billed to the property, as well as civil penalties, court orders, and other enforcement actions.
Under Local Law 31 of 2020, landlords should have already identified and tested for the presence of lead-based paint in dwelling units and common areas of buildings constructed before 1960, with a compliance deadline of August 9, 2025. If this testing determines that an apartment or a common area are free from lead-based paint OR if there is lead-based paint and the owner chose to permanently remove or encapsulate that paint (not all surfaces may be encapsulated), the owner may wish to file for an exemption with HPD. Once an exemption is granted, for a unit or common area covered by an exemption, the landlord will no longer be required to: provide annual notices regarding lead-based paint to the tenant of that unit or conduct annual inspections of units with children under 6.
To support these efforts, HPD launched the new Lead Exemption Online Portal (LEOP), designed to streamline the process for landlords to manage and report lead exemptions, ensuring compliance and contributing to safer homes for all New Yorkers. As of Sept. 30, 2025, HPD has received over 19,800 lead-free exemption applications.
HPD continues its collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General and the New York City Law Department to enhance its Local Law 1 litigation efforts and ensure landlord compliance. In Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), HPD collected over $90,000 in civil penalties for lead-based paint hazards and record-keeping violations and assisted in the settlement with New York Attorney General Letitia James in the Lilmor Management, LLC portfolio of $6.5 million. Additionally, 20,380 violations were issued for lead-based paint hazards. As part of its unwavering commitment to protecting public health, the Emergency Repair Program has spent over $5.36 million in remediation and abatement work related to Lead-based paint hazards in residential properties in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).
For additional information on how to prevent exposure to lead, visit nyc.gov/lead or call 311. For additional information about the requirements of New York City’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, visit nyc.gov/lead-based-paint.
Delivering on Commitment: The 2025 Lead Compliance Report
As part of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the Mayor’s Office of Risk Management and Compliance is releasing the Delivering on Commitment: The 2025 Lead Compliance Report. This is the first time New York City has published cross-agency lead prevention and compliance metrics outside of legally mandated reporting. The report compiles data from multiple agencies to assess performance against local laws and regulations, track progress year-over-year, and highlight both successes and ongoing barriers in eliminating lead exposure.
Building on the City’s LeadFreeNYC roadmap, the report shows how agencies are strengthening enforcement, expanding abatement, improving transparency, and targeting high-risk communities. While recognizing that compliance is influenced by many external factors, the report provides a clear picture of where New York City stands today — and where continued work is needed — as the City advances toward its goal of a lead-free future.
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CONTACT: PressOffice@health.nyc.gov; Press@hpd.nyc.gov; and DepPressOffice@dep.nyc.gov