Onondaga County recorded 452 children with elevated blood lead levels in 2025, down from 742 in 2016, while children tested in Syracuse continued to show substantially higher rates than those outside the city.
The figures appear in the county’s 2026 Lead Progress Report, released Oct. 27 during Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. The report describes more than $25 million in prevention and housing investments since 2022, expanded testing and a larger lead-safe contractor workforce.
Syracuse bears a larger share of elevated results
The county screened 10,026 children in 2025. Among children tested in Syracuse, 9.1% had blood lead levels at or above 5 micrograms per deciliter, compared with 0.8% outside the city. That is the county’s threshold for public health intervention.
The decline from 742 to 452 cases represents a reduction of nearly 40% since 2016. The report attributes progress to sustained testing and intervention while identifying continued exposure in higher-risk neighborhoods.
The figures describe children who were tested. The county’s data page explains that children with multiple tests are counted once per year, using their highest blood-draw result, or their highest finger-stick result when a blood-draw result is unavailable.
Health Commissioner Dr. Kathryn Anderson said even small amounts of lead can affect a child’s development. Families with elevated results receive follow-up testing, clinical review, a home investigation and help from a dedicated case coordinator.
Housing grants and repairs expand
The report identifies $13 million in federal grants and $12 million in county resources for prevention, remediation, workforce development, testing, outreach and housing. The county’s accompanying release described more than $24 million invested since 2022.
The county received a $7.7 million federal Lead Hazard Reduction Grant in 2025, its largest award for that program. The report lists a goal of 270 housing units, with 91 completed and 143 in the pipeline.
The program addresses lead-based paint hazards in privately owned rental and owner-occupied homes. The report describes lead-hazard work in eligible homes built before 1978, with priority for households with pregnant women or young children.
The Windows, Doors, and More initiative combines state and local funding for hazards identified through health department inspections. The report lists a $1.3 million pilot award, $827,000 in additional 2025 funding and another $1 million in 2026.
A separate Windows and Doors initiative targets homes built before 1980, with Home HeadQuarters managing contractor bidding and project work. Since 2024, the report lists 826 windows and 84 doors replaced, five housing units completed and 48 in progress.
County-funded work has also addressed homes of families interested in foster care. Eleven homes have been completed and three more are in the pipeline, helping expand safe placement options for children younger than 6.
More trained contractors and school testing
The county reports a network of more than 550 certified professionals. It funded EPA-certified Lead-Safe Work Practices training for contractors, landlords and property owners to expand the workforce available for safe repairs.
The report compares a current median remediation time of 248 days with 392 days during 2022-24, a reduction of about 37%. The fastest completed project took 125 days.
The grant process includes an application, eligibility review, approval, inspection, contractor bidding, remediation and clearance testing before a family returns home.
A school-based testing initiative reached 531 children across 18 schools with Syracuse prekindergarten classrooms during spring and fall 2024 and spring 2025. Children with elevated results received follow-up care under state health requirements.
The report’s introductory message identifies five children with elevated blood lead levels, while its program summary lists 1.3% with elevated finger-stick results. It does not explain how those two measures relate.
The health department also brings mobile testing into neighborhoods and schools to supplement screening through health care providers.
Temporary housing during remediation
Howard’s House opened in March 2026 as the county’s first lead-safe temporary housing program. The four-unit, short-stay Syracuse residence can accommodate eligible families whose children cannot safely return home after hospitalization, as well as families referred while lead-hazard work is underway.
Onondaga County, Home HeadQuarters and the city of Syracuse partnered to renovate the property. County staff coordinate testing, case management and grant services during families’ stays.
The residence honors Dr. Howard Weinberger, a pediatrician who served Syracuse-area families for more than 50 years and helped develop approaches to identifying, monitoring and treating elevated blood lead levels.
The report also describes homeowners who received repair assistance, a lead-risk assessor who trains contractors and a property-services contractor who brought his team through certification. Their accounts illustrate the roles of inspections, grants and training in addressing hazards.
Annual reporting and community outreach
Health educators gave 21 presentations and attended 64 outreach events at 60 locations in 2025. Partners include Head Start, child care providers, WIC, SUNY Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital programs, health coalitions and advocacy organizations.
The county plans to issue the annual report during Lead Poisoning Prevention Week each fall and provide updates during the county executive’s State of the County address. Current year-to-date information is available on its local data page.
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