This post is sponsored and contributed by Salt and Light Co., a Patch Brand Partner.

Community Corner

Lead Paint Continues to Pose a Threat After 50 Years

New Jersey Launches a Program to Enhance Home Safety for Children

Salt and Light Co., Brand Partner
|
Children sometimes eat lead paint chips because they are sweet to the taste. However, most lead paint enters the body in the form of dust.
Children sometimes eat lead paint chips because they are sweet to the taste. However, most lead paint enters the body in the form of dust. (Salt and Light Co.)

This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.

In New Jersey, years ago, we would frequently hear TV and radio announcements warning us about the dangers of lead paint to children. Children could ingest paint chips and experience a range of health issues. When these announcements ceased, many of us believed that the problem had been resolved. However, this belief is unfounded. Lead paint in homes remains a significant hazard, causing substantial health problems in children and even contributing to a higher crime rate.

In New Jersey alone, the NJ Realtors Association estimates that over 1.6 million homes could contain lead-based paint. Lead paint was not banned in the United States until 1978, which means that approximately 60% of all New Jersey homes could have some level of lead paint. Willingboro Township in Burlington County has the highest number of homes built before 1978, but towns along the Delaware River and historic communities like Mt. Holly and Pemberton also have older housing stock.

Lead Paint, Health, and Crime are related.

Lead paint poses serious health risks. The Environmental Protection Agency has linked even low levels of lead exposure to lower IQ, learning disabilities, ADHD, behavioral problems, and adverse educational outcomes. Children may experience slower growth, hearing, and speech difficulties. In severe cases, lead exposure can cause brain and nervous system damage or even death.

Lead paint remains a significant danger.

Although banned for residential use in 1978, lead paint didn’t simply vanish. Unless a home has been completely gutted and rebuilt, lead paint may still be present, often hidden under layers of newer paint. Everyday activities like opening windows or moving furniture can disturb lead dust. Windows, baseboards, stairways, and closets are rarely repainted, making them common sources of exposure. Lead can also be found in soil, especially in areas near former industrial sites that have been converted into residential neighborhoods.

Paint that flakes off in “sheets” or large chips is a telltale sign of lead paint

So, what’s being done?

To address this ongoing threat, New Jersey has launched the Lead Remediation and Abatement Program (LRAP), administered by the Department of Community Affairs. The state is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to help low- and moderate-income residents make their homes safer.

Who Qualifies?

The income guidelines are based on 80% of each county’s Adjusted Gross Income. For Burlington County, the maximum limits are:

  • 1 person: $66,850
  • 2 people: $76,400
  • 3 people: $85,950
  • 4 people: $95,500
  • 5 people: $103,150
  • 6 people: $110,800
  • 7 people: $118,450
  • 8 people: $126,100

The total income of all permanent residents in the home is considered.

To see a video about the health issues connected to lead paint, click on this link: https://youtu.be/21BVpDxw6Oc?si=-DjyogBgHRpIKBt0


For more information, you can contact the Salt and Light Company in Burlington County at (609) 261-4571 or email Lrapinquiries@affordablehomesgroup.com. Statewide, to register for LRAP, visit https://dcaid.dca.nj.gov/en-US/

This post is an advertorial piece contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local brand partner. To learn more, click here.

This post is sponsored and contributed by Salt and Light Co., a Patch Brand Partner.

More from Cinnaminson