42 U.S.C. § 4821
Development of program; consultation; nature of program; safe level of lead; report to Congress (THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE (42 U.S.C.))
Operative Text
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall develop and carry out a demonstration and research program to determine the nature and extent of the problem of lead based paint poisoning in the United States, particularly in urban areas, including the methods by which the lead based paint hazard can most effectively be removed from interior surfaces, porches, and exterior surfaces of residential housing to which children may be exposed. The Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall conduct appropriate research on multiple layers of dried paint film, containing the various lead compounds commonly used, in order to ascertain the safe level of lead in residential paint products. No later than , the Chairman shall submit to Congress a full and complete report of his findings and recommendations as developed pursuant to such programs, together with a statement of any legislation which should be enacted or any changes in existing law which should be made in order to carry out such recommendations.
Section 42 U.S.C. § 4821 establishes two parallel federal research mandates related to lead-based paint. First, it directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to run a demonstration and research program examining the scope of lead-based paint poisoning in the United States—especially in urban areas—and to study effective methods for removing lead-based paint hazards from residential surfaces where children may be exposed. Second, it tasks the Chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission with researching multiple layers of dried paint film to determine what level of lead in residential paint products can be considered safe, with findings and legislative recommendations to be reported to Congress.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under the broader federal lead-based paint regulatory framework should be aware that 42 U.S.C. § 4821 is the foundational research provision that informed subsequent lead-based paint rules governing residential housing. Compliant operators generally stay current with HUD guidance and Consumer Product Safety Commission standards that emerged from the research this section authorized, particularly regarding hazard identification and remediation methods on interior surfaces, porches, and exterior areas accessible to children. Understanding the origins of these standards in § 4821 helps operators contextualize why federal rules focus on specific surfaces and exposure pathways in residential settings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants, particularly those living in older urban housing, can look to 42 U.S.C. § 4821 as the legislative foundation for federal efforts to understand and address lead-based paint hazards in residential settings. The research mandates established by this provision gave rise to disclosure requirements and hazard standards that tenants may be able to invoke if they believe their housing presents a lead-based paint risk. Tenants who have concerns about lead paint exposure in their home may find it useful to contact a local tenant-rights organization, a public health agency, or a HUD-approved housing counselor to learn about rights and complaint pathways that developed from the programs this section set in motion.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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