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EPA Lead Program

Grant Fact Sheet

Screening Imported Candy to
Identify Lead Contamination
Hazards

University of Nevada - Las Vegas

EPA has selected the University of
Nevada - Las Vegas (UN-LV) in Las

Vegas, Nevada for a Targeted Lead Grant.

UN-LV will address the emerging public
health issue of lead-contaminated imported
candy and the relationship between
consumption of such candy and incidents of
childhood lead poisoning. A "real time"
monitoring of imported candy products will
result in the identification and prompt
removal of this relatively atypical lead
hazard from the consumer marketplace by
state and local health agencies. In addition,
the project will significantly reduce analytic
costs associated with determining lead
contaminant levels in imported candy.

UN-LV intends to use EPA grant funding to:

•	Measure the lead concentrations of
imported candies purchased at local
corner stores, flea markets and swap meets, especially imported candy intended to
appeal to young children,

•	Develop an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) lead screening protocol to share with Childhood
Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs across the United States,

•	Develop a nationally accessible database on imported candy for identifying lead
hazards, and

•	Create outreach materials to distribute to affected communities in Nevada.

EPA's Targeted Lead Grants

EPA's Targeted Lead Grant Program funds
projects in areas with high incidences of
children with elevated blood-lead levels in
vulnerable populations. In 2007 the Agency
awarded more than $5.2 Million in grants
under this ambitious program. These
targeted grants are intended to address
immediate needs of the communities in
which they are awarded, and will also
highlight lead poison prevention strategies
that can be used in similar communities
across the country.

EPA's lead program is playing a major role
in meeting the federal goal of eliminating
childhood lead poisoning as a major public
health concern by 2010, and the projects
supported by these grant funds are an
important part of this ongoing effort.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control in 1978 there were 13.5 million
children in the US with elevated blood lead
levels. By 2002, that number had dropped
to 310,000.

For more information about EPA's Lead
Program, visit www.epa.gov/lead or call
the National Lead Information Center at
1-800-424-LEAD.

2007 Targeted Lead Grant Program

Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

www.epa.gov/lead

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