Children and Lead Leading children toward lead prevention

1
Children and Lead Leading children toward lead
prevention

• Yvonne Freeman, Ph.D. student
• Walden University
• PH 8165-3
• Instructor Dr. Jeff Wu
• Summer, 2009

2
Overview

• What is Lead?
• How children are exposed?
• What are the health risks for children exposed to
  lead?
• Local community statistics
• Prevention Strategies
• Environmental health approach
• Summary
• Questions

3
What is Lead?
Picture source Microsoft Office Clip Art 2007
4

• Lead is a naturally occurring bluish gray metal.
• It is found in small amounts in the earths
  crust.
• Lead can be found in all parts of our
  environment.
• Soil, dust, drinking water, air, food and
  other products
• Lead s many different uses.
• Production of batteries
• Ammunition
• Lead past uses
• Gasoline
• Paints
• Picture Source webmineral.com/lead

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Exposure sources

• Lead contamination is often found in the
  home

Water
Children
Interior dust Exterior dust
Interior paint
Toys
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Health Impact

• Children exposed to lead can have serious health
  problems.
• Neurological
  Physical
• Behavior and attention problems
  Growth
• Learning difficulties
  Blood
  cell development
• Cognitive losses
  Kidney
  function

Picture Source Microsoft Office Clip Art 2007
7
Statistics

• RI statistics for lead and
  children
• Trends from 2005- 2006 lead levels
• Database in RI of properties containing lead
  violations
• Overall lead health in RI for children

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RI cities and Towns

• Incidence of elevated lead levels
  2005- 2006
• Source RI Department of Health, CLPPP, LESS
  Database

City of children first time gt10 BLL of children Screened with no previous elevated BLL Incidence Year 2005 Year 2006
Pawtucket 56 43 2,731 2,761 2.1 1.6 2005 2006
Providence 341 272 7,539 7,439 7.5 3.7 2005 2006
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Properties with Multiple Poisonings Public List

• The properties contained in this list have been
  the source of multiple lead poisonings of
  children, and are not currently lead safe. The
  listing includes addresses of properties that
• 1. are not lead safe (do not have a current Lead
  Safe Certificate)
• three (3) or more children lived at the time
  their blood was tested for lead and at least two
  (2) of these children were lead poisoned.
• Source RI Department of Health, CLPPP, LESS
  Database

Providence 60
Pawtucket 10
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Lead health for children in RI

• Rhode Island in 2006 had the 2nd highest
  percentage of children under the age of 6 with an
  elevated blood lead level.
• Rhode Islands rate for lead poisoning was 2.4
  in 2006 compared to 1.2 for the U.S.
• Rhode Island has more work to do with regard
  to protecting the children against lead
• Source 2009 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Fact book

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Prevention strategies

• How to protect your child/children from lead
  poisoning.
• 1. Wash your childs hands often, especially
  before he or she eats.
• 2. Cover peeling or flaking paint with contact
  paper or duct tape
• 3. Wash windows, doorways, floors, and dusty
  areas often with a wet mop or cloth
• 4. Pick up loose paint chips and throw them
  away.
• Have your child play in grassy areas or in a
  covered sandbox.
• Source RI Department of Health

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Environmental Health Approach for Lead Health

• Identify the population(mainly children)who are
  at risk for lead poisoning
• Identify and or prevent actual or potential
  environmental risks for lead poisoning in
  children
• Guide intervention strategies that involve
  community based activities
• Improve and encourage policy making at all levels
  of government
• Track and refine guidelines

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Summary

• Lead is.. Naturally occurring element
• Children are exposed by several sources which
  are. Water, soil, paint, and toys
• The health impact of lead exposure for children
  are Both physical and neurological
• RI is ranked . 12th in the nation for elevated
  BLL in children
• Prevention strategies include.. Hand washing,
  awareness of chipped paint, disposing of chipped
  paint, and recognizing all exposure sources to
  prevent your child from being exposed. And in
  R.I. there is a posting for apartments that have
  been found not to be lead safe so this is also a
  source for prevention.
• Environmental health approach are.multifaceted
  and involve strategies targeted towards
  identification of the population at risk, public
  policy and tracking.

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For more information/resources on lead health

• Website
• Childhood Lead Action Project
• www.leadsafekids.org
• Help Lead Safe Center ( focus for landlords)
• www.leadsaferi.com
• RI Childhood Lead Poisoning Control Program
• www. health.ri.gov/lead
• Phone
• The HEALTH Information Line ( for any lead
  related questions for RI residents)
• 1-800-942-7434

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References

• Lead mineral photo
• http//www.webmineral.com/specimen
• Microsoft office clip art (2007)
• Microsoft Office Power Point Presentation
• Rhode Island Department of Health Lead Program
• http//www.health.ri.gov
• Rhode Island Department of Health Lead Program
• http//www.health.ri.gov/lead/data.php
• Rhode Island Kids Count(2009) Rhode Island Kids
  Count Fact book
• http//www.rikidscount.org

16
Questions
Picture Source Microsoft Office Clip Art 2007