About the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Lead Poisoning Prevention Program Brochure

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has declared lead to be “a major environmental health threat" for children.

Lead poisoning may impact the brain development of young children and can even harm the developing brain of a fetus in the final weeks of a pregnancy.  The injuries to the nervous system and other organs can lead to significant challenges for the growing child in areas like reading and behavior.  Little bodies can’t handle toxic burdens like adult bodies and more often sustain lasting injury.

With education, awareness and action parents and others can prevent lead poisoning in their loved ones and themselves.  CEP’s free Lead Poisoning Prevention workshops are designed to provide this education, generate awareness and enable action through the provision of superior information and resources for the average citizen.  Workshops are offered city-wide and year-round.

Community Energy Project offers two levels of lead poisoning prevention workshops, each with free safety kits for qualified participants.
To register, call 503.284.6827 x109 or email Lead101@CommunityEnergyProject.org

Lead Poisoning Prevention Workshops

This basic introductory class is perfect for those living in a home built before 1978 who want to know more about lead and basic poisoning prevention methods.
  • How to protect you and your family from the dangerous affects of lead on the body

  • Sources of lead in the home

  • Information and resources on blood-lead testing and screening items for lead

  • Prevention strategies and lead safe cleaning

  • Connections to related resources

The kit for qualified participants includes lead-safe cleaning supplies and testing materials, as well as the opportunity borrow a HEPA vacuum.

Lead Safe Home Projects Workshops

This basic class is great for people who want to do a small project that may involve exposure to lead paint, such as sanding down an old window frame or a reused door with potential lead paint.
  • Basic background on history and uses of lead

  • Project planning and preparation

  • Lead-Safe work techniques

  • Project cleanup and dust testing of area

  • Connections to related resources

The kit for qualified participants includes a starter kit for lead-safe work practices and testing materials, as well as the opportunity borrow a HEPA vacuum.

HEPA Vacuum Lending Program

The Community Energy Project is pleased to announce we now have another free tool for families and individuals to use to reduce lead hazards in the home. We are now loaning a sealed High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum to households looking for access to the same type of clean-up tool used by professionals.

How do you go about borrowing a sealed HEPA vacuum from CEP? It's easy! Follow these steps:

  • Call us at 503.284.6827 x107 and register for the next available Lead Poisoning Prevention or Lead-Safe Home Projects workshop, or view the schedule of classes and register online.

  • After attending a workshop, schedule an appointment to pick up the vacuum by calling or emailing the Community Education Supervisor at the above number or at Lead@CommunityEnergyProject.org.

  • Come to the CEP office at 422 NE Alberta St. to complete paperwork and pick up the equipment. A pre-authorization of $200 must be made via credit card (no checks please) as a safeguard against equipment damage or loss.

  • Call or email to schedule equipment return date and time, and return equipment at that time.