Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality oversees both the asbestos and lead‑based paint programs as key components of its air regulations, ensuring that communities remain protected from harmful airborne contaminants. These programs work together to manage, monitor, and reduce exposure to materials that can pose serious health risks when disturbed. Asbestos oversight focuses on the management of asbestos in place and safe handling and removal practices, while the lead‑based paint program addresses hazards that can arise during abatement activities. Each program plays a vital role in maintaining cleaner, safer air across the state. By regulating contractors, enforcing standards, and providing public guidance, LDEQ helps prevent dangerous particles from entering the environment. These efforts reflect the agency’s broader mission to safeguard public health through strong environmental stewardship and responsible air‑quality management.

Asbestos

The Asbestos Program oversees regulated asbestos activities in Louisiana and is structured around two primary components: asbestos management plans and renovation/demolition oversight. Anyone conducting work within the program—whether developing asbestos management plans, performing inspections, or carrying out abatement—must be properly accredited to ensure competency and compliance. Management plans, which apply to schools and certain public buildings, require ongoing evaluation and documentation of asbestos‑containing materials to protect occupants. Renovation and demolition requirements apply whenever activities may disturb asbestos, ensuring that proper notifications, work practices, and safety measures are followed to prevent the release of hazardous fibers into the environment.

Lead-Based Paint

A child occupied facility (COF) is a place, other than the child’s home, constructed prior to 1978, where a child under age 6 spends a certain amount of time per day, per week, and per year.  Examples include elementary schools, preschools, day care centers, parks, playgrounds.   Lead-based paint is regulated in COFs because children tend to absorb lead more readily than adults, and because children under age 6 tend to crawl on the floor and put their hands or other items in their mouth. Target housing is any housing built before 1978, except housing for the elderly or person with disabilities, or any zero-bedroom homes, unless a child under age 6 lives there.  Because lead-based paint in residential homes was banned in 1978, these older homes are regulated because they are more likely to contain lead-based paint.