Through this lead and healthy homes technical studies (lhhts) award, HUD is funding studies to improve HUD's and the public's knowledge of housing-related health and safety hazards and to improve or…

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control awarded Quantech Inc. a cooperative agreement valued at $624,531 (awarded April 1, 2025, with completion by March 31, 2028) under the Lead Technical Studies Grants program (CFDA 14.902). Through this award, Quantech Inc. will conduct technical research studies designed to improve the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of methods for evaluating and controlling residential lead-based paint hazards. The research activities will advance scientific knowledge on hazard identification and mitigation strategies, with findings intended to inform updates to HUD's Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing and support related policy guidance in compliance with the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992.

As a statistical analysis and survey research firm specializing in housing and environmental health domains, Quantech Inc. will leverage its established expertise to address gaps in the science surrounding lead hazard detection and cost-effective remediation implementation. The cooperative agreement represents continued collaboration between HUD and Quantech Inc., building on the company's prior work conducting evaluations of healthy homes remediation activities and data analysis services for federal housing programs.

Activities

Lead technical studies (LTS): the overall goal of the LTS grant program is to gain knowledge to improve the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of methods for evaluation and control of residential lead-based paint hazards. The overall objectives include but are not limited to the statutory requirements listed in 1052 of the residential lead-based paint hazard reduction act of 1992 (title x) (42 U.S.C. §§ 4854 and 4854A) which directs HUD to conduct research on topics which include the development of improved methods for evaluating and reducing lead-based paint hazards in housing, among others. 1. Develop improved methods for evaluating lead-based paint hazards. 2. Develop improved methods for reducing lead-based paint hazards. 3. Develop improved methods for measuring lead in paint films, dust, and soil. 4. Establish performance standards for various detection methods, including spot test kit. 5. Establish performance standards for lead-based paint hazard reduction methods, including the use of encapsulants. 6. Establish appropriate cleanup standards. 7. Evaluate the efficacy of interim controls in various situations. 8. Evaluate the relative performance of various abatement techniques. 9. Evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of interim control and abatement strategies. 10. Assess the effectiveness of hazard evaluation and reduction activities. Preparation and submission of a minimum of one report or a manuscript for the publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal following HUD acceptance.

Expected outcomes

Lead technical studies (LTS): evaluation of the effectiveness of specific residential lead hazard control interventions. The effectiveness of lead hazard control interventions (i.e., interim controls or a combination of interim controls and abatement) over various time periods following implementation is a topic that has been primarily covered through HUD's evaluation of the HUD lead hazard control grant program. Research the value of lead risk assessments when triggered by children with blood lead levels (blls) at or near CDC's blood lead reference value of 3.5 ΜG/DL. The frequency at which lead based paint (LBP) hazards are identified in the homes of children with these blls has not been well documented. HUD is interested in supporting research for children with blls near or above the current CDC blood-lead reference value of 3.5 ΜG/DL (e.g., blls ? 3 ΜG/DL and < 5 ΜG/DL). Analysis of available data and databases. HUD is interested in supporting research using existing data to address key scientific issues related to the identification and control of lead-based paint hazards. HUD is also interested in the creative use of existing databases (e.g., census data, blood-lead screening data, etc.) to improve the efficacy of lead hazard control programs. HUD anticipates that the results of program-supported studies will help to develop evidence-based approaches that are cost-effective and efficient and will result in the reduction of health threats for the maximum number of residents and children and other vulnerable populations (e.g., the elderly) in low-income households. Study results are also expected to improve our understanding of how specific aspects of the indoor environment can affect the health of residents.

Intended beneficiaries

For both LTS and hhts, HUD anticipates that the results of program-supported studies will help to develop evidence-based approaches that are cost-effective and efficient and will result in the reduction of health threats for the maximum number of residents and children and other vulnerable populations (e.g., the elderly) in low-income households (e.g., homeowners, rental property owners, rental, and public housing residents. HUD is especially interested in applications that will advance our knowledge on priority healthy homes issues by addressing important gaps in the science related to the accurate and efficient identification of hazards and the implementation of cost-effective hazard mitigation.

Subrecipient activities

The subrecipient activities are unknown at the time of award.