title: Rochester's lead law: evaluation of a local environmental health policy innovation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Significant progress has been made in reducing the incidence of childhood lead poisoning in the United States in the past three decades. However, the prevalence of elevated blood lead in children (≥ 10 μg/dL) remains high in some communities, particularly those with high proportions of pre-1978 housing in poor condition. Increasingly, municipalities are using local policy tools to reduce lead poisoning in high-risk areas, but little is known about the effectiveness of such policies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this article, we evaluated the effectiveness of a comprehensive rental housing-based lead law adopted in Rochester, New York, in 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  This policy evaluation integrates analyses of city inspections data, a survey of landlords, landlord focus groups, and health department data on children's blood lead levels from the first 4 years of implementation of the 2005 law.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Implementation has proceeded consistent with projected numbers of inspections with nearly all target units inspected in the first 4 years. Higher than expected inspection passage rates suggest that landlords have reduced lead hazards in rental housing affected by the law. Implementation of the lead law does not appear to have had a significant impact on the housing market.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although many uncertainties remain, our analysis suggests that the lead law has had a positive impact on children's health. Strong enforcement, support for community-based lead programs, and ongoing intergovernmental coordination will be necessary to maintain lead-safe housing in Rochester. Lessons learned from the Rochester experience may inform future local lead poisoning prevention policies in other communities.
authors: University of Rochester Medical Center, Environmental Health Sciences Center, 601 Elmwood Ave., Box EHSC, Rochester, NY 14642 USA. Katrina_korfmacher@urmc.rochester.edu
authors: Katrina Smith
authors: KS
authors: Korfmacher
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Ayoob
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Morley
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006798:Housing / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009518:New York; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D007854:Lead