HUD, in cooperation with the EPA, surveyed homes in the U.S. to evaluate the presence of lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards (such as lead-contaminated dust or soil). HUD has posted the American Healthy Homes Survey II Lead Findings Report. While we were in the homes, we also collected: a water sample for lead, an air sample for formaldehyde, a floor dust sample for mold; and wipe samples for pesticide residues.

A detailed description of the project is on the AHHS II Project Description webpage. The project took place between May 2018 and May 2019 and was conducted by QuanTech, a survey research firm in Rockville, MD, under contract with HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes.

This is a random sample of 703 homes throughout the U.S. The survey results represent the entire U.S. and will be the first national survey of lead in water and formaldehyde and will update previous estimates of lead in paint, dust, soil, and pesticide levels. The EPA is working on a publication for the results of the water sampling. The EPA has already published the results of the mold sampling.

The information from this project will be critical for tracking the national progress in reducing the number of U.S. homes with lead-based paint and other housing health and safety hazards. For more information about the project, please contact Eugene A. Pinzer of HUD at (202) 402-7685 or eugene.a.pinzer@hud.gov. (Persons with hearing or speech difficulties may also reach the phone number above by dialing 711 via teletype (TTY) or telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD).)

American Healthy Homes Survey II Lead Findings Report

This AHHS II lead report is based on a sample of 703 homes selected to represent the U.S. homes where children may live. The Survey was conducted from March 2018 through June 2019. It is estimated that 34.6 million homes (29.4%) have lead-based paint (LBP) somewhere in the building, with 30.9 million (89%) built before 1978.  Twenty-nine million (24.6% of homes) have one or more significant lead-based paint hazards (based on the use of EPA’s current dust-lead standards, in effect since 2020). An estimated 3.3 million homes with children less than six years of age have one or more LBP hazards; this includes 2.1 million low-income households. (<$35,000/yr.)

 Households receiving Government housing assistance had a lower prevalence of LBP hazards (21%) compared to those not receiving support (25.2%). There were significant reductions in dust lead loadings on windowsills and in soil lead levels from the first AHHS (completed in 2006) to AHHS II; however, the prevalence of homes with significantly deteriorated LBP was higher in AHHS II (15.4%) than in AHHS (14.5%).   HUD has posted the American Healthy Homes Survey II Lead Findings Report[APJ1].

Click here for more information on the American Healthy Homes Survey II Project Description.