Residents

Reducing exposure to contaminants through dust and other channels is important to your family’s safety. These contaminants can arise before, during, and after the demolition of vacant properties.

Before the demolition of a property, various hazards can be present. It is best to avoid these structures and if you notice one is not secured and people that do not have permission are entering and exiting the structure, please contact The Warren City Health Department.

Once a vacant property is on the list to demolished, the Trumbull County Land Bank and Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership will notify adjacent property owners that a demolition will be occurring in their neighborhood. This is done through a door hanger that is placed at each residence. A sign is also placed in the neighborhood at the site of demolition to alert other neighbors to be cautious of the area.

During the demolition it is important to stay far away and to limit exposure. Keep windows closed so dust does not settle. Avoid the site of demolition if at all possible. After demolition it is important to clean any dust from your landscaping, play areas, and other outdoor spaces.

If planning to do create a community project on a residential site where a house once stood, there are some precautions to and considerations. These are outlined in Safer Practices for Community Green Spaces and Safer Practices for Community Gardening and Urban Agriculture. Some of these safer practices are outlined below.

Tips to Avoid Possible Contamination

The following preventative steps can be taken to reduce exposure to lead:

01

Clean up chipping or peeling paint from inside and outside your home.

02

Wash floors and window sills each week using a general all-purpose cleaner or cleaner made specifically for lead.

03

Shower and change clothes after working with lead (wash these clothes separately).

04

Encourage children to play in grassy areas of the yard to decrease their exposure to lead found in soil.

05

Wash children's hands often, especially before they eat.

06

Eat foods high in iron and calcium, a good diet helps reduce the amount of lead your body absorbs.
nose

Inhalation

of particles released by industry or recycling
carrot-outlined-vegetable

Ingestion

of contaminated soil or dust from decaying lead paint
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Food or Water

contaminated with lead
makeup

Lead-Containing Products

such as lead-glazed ceramics and some traditional medicines or cosmetics

Ways to Prevent Lead Poisoning

How to keep you and your family safe!

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Grow crops in raised beds using clean soil and lots of organic material.

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Contaminants such as arsenic can be naturally occurring in the soils found in Ohio.

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Always wash your fruits and vegetables before eating and teach children to do the same.

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Structures near a demolition may collect dust on them that contains contaminants.

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Cover bare soil and walkways with mulch, landscape fabric, stones, or bricks.

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Try not to track dirt from the garden into your home.