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Impact of a More Stringent Blood Lead Level Recommendation for Children (Ages 1-5): Vulnerabilities Related to Housing, Food Security, Vitamins, and Environmental Toxicants
Citation:
Cairns, A., Jeff Inmon, E. Hudgens, R. Birch, Tim Wade, AND J. Gallagher. Impact of a More Stringent Blood Lead Level Recommendation for Children (Ages 1-5): Vulnerabilities Related to Housing, Food Security, Vitamins, and Environmental Toxicants. Presented at Environmental Justice Summit, Franklinton NC, NC, October 18 - 19, 2013.
Impact/Purpose:
This research, provides insight into the broad array of vulnerability factors related to income level, food security, nutritional status and housing facing children ages 1-5 with high Blood Lead levels using CDC's data base (NHANES)
Description:
The adverse health effects of lead (Pb) exposure in young children are well known. Non-Hispanic black children historically have higher blood Pb levels (BLL) compared to Mexican-Americans and non- Hispanic white children (CDC-MMWR). In the past, BLL tests below 10 µg/dL may have been reported to parents. Recently (2012) the CDC accepted the Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention’s (ACCLPP)recommendation that children with Pb levels at the 97.5 percentile level (≥5 µg/dL)be identified as having Pb exposure allowing parents, doctors, public health officials and communities to take action earlier to reduce the child’s future exposure to Pb. We combined NHANES/CDC databases (Third and Fourth Reports: 2003-2006 ) to identify the additional number of children impacted by ACCLPP’s more stringent BLL(≥5 µg/dL). Of the 1897 children (aged 1-5), 6.3 % had BLL ≥5 µg/dL, while only (1.5 %) children had blood levels at the less stringent BLL ≥ 10 µg/dL. Children at the 97.5th percentile (≥5 µg/dL) vs 25th percentile (0.26-1.2 BLL µg/dL) were evaluated for differences related to demographic, nutritional, housing characteristics, food security, and other blood levels of environmental toxicants. Non-Hispanic black children with higher BLL had vitamin deficiencies and elevated levels of cadmium and cotinine. They also had less access to food, and lived in older homes. This research, although preliminary, offers insight into the broad array of additional vulnerability factors facing children with high BLL. Approaches that take into consideration the cumulative burden of chemical and non-chemical stressors are ongoing.