Lead

Occupational Health and Safety is committed to fostering a safe and healthy environment for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. To uphold this commitment, the university maintains a comprehensive Lead Safety Program focused on the identification, monitoring, and management of potential lead-related hazards across campus.

Lead hazards at UK fall into two primary categories:

1. Lead in Building Materials
   This includes lead-based paint, plumbing systems, water pipes, and related fixtures—especially in buildings constructed before 1978.
2. Occupational and Research Use of Lead
   This includes applications such as lead solder, ammunition, radiation shielding, and the use of organic or inorganic lead compounds in laboratories and studios.

Through proactive assessments, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation strategies, UK aims to minimize lead exposure and protect the well-being of the campus community.

Lead-based paint is defined as paint containing lead in concentrations exceeding 1.0 mg/cm² or more than 0.5% by weight. Although its use was banned in residential and public buildings after 1978, some older campus buildings may still contain such paint.

The Environmental Quality Management (EQM) conducts extensive inspections and testing to map the presence and condition of lead-based paint. Special attention is given to facilities occupied or frequented by children under 6 years of age, who are especially vulnerable to lead exposure.

Before any construction, renovation, or demolition activity that might disturb painted surfaces, EQM must review and approve the project.

. For information on the Lead-Based Paint Management Program, click here.

Potential sources of lead in campus water systems include:

• Lead pipes
• Lead solder (banned in 1986)
• Leaded brass fittings

Thanks to the Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (2014), the maximum allowable lead content in “lead-free” pipes, fittings, and fixtures was reduced from 8.0% to 0.25%.

Kentucky American Water (KAW)—Lexington’s water utility—implements EPA-required corrosion control measures to prevent lead leaching. KAW conducts regular water quality testing to comply with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule, and consistently meets all regulatory standards.

While older campus buildings may still contain lead-bearing components, the combination of corrosion control and routine water system flushing makes lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 ppb highly unlikely.

For questions or concerns please reach out to the University of Kentucky’s Water Quality Compliance Manager  to ensure you have safe drinking water.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) oversees the safe handling of lead used in occupational, academic, and research settings. OHS conducts periodic air and surface sampling and ensures individuals are properly trained in lead safety protocols.

Common sources of occupational exposure include:

• Firing ranges (e.g., UK Rifle Team, UK Police Department)
• Lead solder use in electronics repair
• Radiation shielding (lead bricks and sheets)
• Laboratory and studio use of lead compounds

If exposure levels exceed OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs), OHS—together with University Health Services and the relevant department—implements corrective measures such as:

• Engineering controls
• Substitution with non-lead products
• Improved work practices
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Medical surveillance or removal, if blood lead levels are elevated