Just one day after the Senate Banking Committee held a confirmation hearing for Ben Carson, president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead HUD, the department issued a final rule amending its lead-based paint regulations to reduce blood lead levels in children under age 6 who reside in federally owned or assisted pre-1978 housing.

The Lead Safe Housing Rule formally revises the definition of “elevated blood lead level” (EBLL) in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and establishes more comprehensive testing and evaluation procedures for the housing where such children reside. Specifically, the rule lowers the action-level of EBLL from 20 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (µg/dL) to 5.

The rule becomes effective Feb. 13.

Childhood lead poisoning has been documented as causing reduced intelligence, low attention span and reading and learning disabilities; it additionally has been linked to juvenile delinquency, behavioral problems and many other adverse health effects.

Despite public health efforts that successfully have reduced toxic lead exposure in children nationwide, blood lead monitoring continues to reveal children with elevated blood lead levels because of exposure in their specific housing environments. The CDC consistently has affirmed its position that lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust are the most hazardous sources of lead for U.S. children.

This rule will cover about 3 million HUD-assisted housing units built before 1978, the year lead-based paint was banned for residential use. Of these homes, about 500,000 are estimated to have children under age 6 residing in them.

When a child under age 6 resides in HUD-assisted housing and has an elevated blood lead level, the housing provider will have to test the home and other potential sources of the child’s lead exposure within 15 days, and ensure that hazards from lead-based paint, dust or soil are controlled within 30 days.

The housing provider also must report the case to HUD so that the department can ensure that follow-ups are completed in a timely manner.

To assist housing providers in preparing for these more stringent requirements, HUD is providing a six-month phase-in period before compliance will be required. The compliance date is July 13.