Incidence of Childhood Lead Poisoning and Risk Reduction in Rural LowIncome Communities

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Incidence of Childhood Lead Poisoning and Risk
Reduction in Rural Low-Income Communities

• Caryl E Waggett, PhD
• Allegheny College

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Lead one of top environmental health concerns in
Commonwealth
Childhood asthma
Childhood obesity and overweight
Lead poisoning
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Pennsylvania Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Programs (CLPPP)only urban!!
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Different Sides of Rural Pennsylvania
Crawford County, pop. 90,366 20 of children 0-5
yrs old are at or below federal poverty
level gt20 of pregnant moms receive no pre-natal
care gt80 of homes built before 1950 25 of homes
are tenant-occupied
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Environmental Samples Corroborate High Risk
21.4 homes tested had at least one soil sample
exceed EPA soil standards for lead of 400
ppm 47.6 homes tested had at least one dust
sample exceed EPA dust samples of 40 ug/sq ft
(floor) or 250 ug/sqft (windowsill)
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Primary sources
Secondary sources
Lead in pipes Coal fired power-plant
emissions Tool-and-die industry, parental
occupational risk Soldering, personal
projects Leaded weight and shot for fishing and
hunting
Lead paint in dust and soils
Residues from leaded gasoline emissions
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Incidence of childhood lead poisoning and risk
reduction in rural low-income communities Study
Objectives

• Increase children screened for lead
• Determine incidence of elevated BLLs
• Establish a regional Community Lead Liaison
  through social service agency
• Train social service staff in prevention
  techniques
• Outreach and education to community leaders
• Disseminate information to other rural communities

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Study DesignPart I

• DETERMINE INCIDENCE OF ELEVATED BLLs
• Collaborate with local pediatrics practice
• screen all children 0-24 mos
• review lead risk factors and screen high risk
  children to 6 yrs
• Ascertain whether or not pediatrics practice sees
  representative cross-section
• Conduct prospective cohort study and determine
  incidence of elevated BLL

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Responsibilities for determining incidence of
elevated BLLs

• Allegheny College
• Nested study design
• Meadville Pediatrics
• Meadville Medical Center Laboratories
• Visiting Nurses Association
• Shuttle services

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Barriers to lead screening for children
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Study DesignPart II

• CONDUCT TRAINING AND OUTREACH
• Train Community Lead Liaison (CLL)
• Train other community leaders with high
  interaction with children and parents
• Social service agencies, schools, congregations,
  civic groups
• Outreach in community
• Disseminate success and challenges to other rural
  communities

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Training
Social service providers
Teachers
Civic groups
Congregations
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Legacy of old homes can helpprovide hope for
other rural regions
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GOAL Healthy children
145 children enrolled in study to date Positive
media coverage Numerous community groups have
requested to partner with us for education and
outreach Training CLL and Bonner Leaders
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Community Partners and Funding
Meadville Pediatrics Center for Family
Services Community Health Services Meadville
Medical Center Laboratories Visiting Nurses
Association of Crawford County Shuttle Services,
Ltd Meadville Redevelopment Authority Center for
Economic and Environmental Development PCIEP Penns
ylvania Department of Health Center for Rural
Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health
Funding US EPA, CEED, Shanbrom Family
Foundation, Wells Family Foundation, Harold M
State Award
Acknowledgements Lindsay Herendeen, David Cass,
Tara Fortier