

Chief State Medical Examiner
Lead is a bluish-gray, soft metallic element used in many household and industrial items from brass fixtures to batteries, and fine crystal to paint. Following are some characteristics of lead:
Lead can be found in:
New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) regulations require certain individuals who conduct lead activities to be permitted. The regulations also establish certification standards for training providers who wish to teach any of the following six disciplines:
In NJ, lead-based paint work must be conducted by companies who possess either a lead Evaluation, Commercial Buildings and Superstructures, or Housing and Public Buildings contractor’s license (as appropriate) issued by the NJ Department of Community Affairs. All of the firm's employees who conduct lead-based paint activities must possess a permit issued by the NJ Department of Health.
Lead pipes may still be found in parts of New Jersey where housing is more than 50 years old.
Lead in drinking water has no taste, odor, or color.
It is estimated that 20% or more of human exposure to lead may come from lead in drinking water.
For more information, visit our page on drinking water and public health.
Resources:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP Rule) requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and pre-schools built before 1978, must have their firm certified by EPA (or an EPA authorized state), use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers and follow lead-safe work practices. The EPA administers this program in New Jersey. If you have any questions or need to find more information about EPA’s requirements, please visit their Renovation, Repair and Painting Program page.
Training agencies who wish to conduct New Jersey lead training for workers and supervisors for housing and public buildings, workers and supervisors for commercial buildings and superstructures, inspector/risk assessors, and planner/project designers must be certified by the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH). For more information:
Individuals employed by licensed lead contractors must be permitted by the NJDOH. For information on discipline descriptions, education/experience requirements, and how to apply for a permit, go to the Lead Permit Requirements page.
The Potential Lead Exposure Mapping (PLEM) website provides a publicly available mapping tool to show potential sources of lead exposure. Currently the tool looks at lead-based paint in housing as a potential source, provides information on distribution of one and two-family rental units built prior to 1980, and details the applicable lead-based paint inspection methodology per the requirements of P.L.2021, c.182. The tool can be used by local health officers, community groups and other members of the public to help identify potential environmental sources of a child’s lead exposure.