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Lead Data Mapping to Prioritize US Locations for Whole-of-Government Exposure Prevention Efforts: State of the Science, Federal Collaborations, and Remaining Challenges
Citation:
Zartarian, V., A. Poulakos, V. Helms Garrison, N. Spalt, R. Tornero-Velez, J. Xue, K. Egan, AND J. Courtney. Lead Data Mapping to Prioritize US Locations for Whole-of-Government Exposure Prevention Efforts: State of the Science, Federal Collaborations, and Remaining Challenges. American Journal of Public Health. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, 112(S7):S658-S669, (2022). https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307051
Impact/Purpose:
This Pb mapping state-of-the-science essay is intended to advance collaborations among federal agencies, state, and local partners for more strategically identifying places for action, to holistically address aggregate multimedia impacts from Pb as called for by EPA's Lead Strategy and the Federal Lead Action Plan.
Description:
For this state-of-science overview of geospatial approaches for identifying US communities with high lead-exposure risk, we compiled and summarized public data and national maps of lead indices and models, environmental lead indicators, and children’s blood lead surveillance data. Currently available indices and models are primarily constructed from housing-age and sociodemographic data; differing methods, variables, data, weighting schemes, and geographic scales yield maps with different exposure risk profiles. Environmental lead indicators are available (e.g., air, drinking water, dust, soil) at different spatial scales, but key gaps remain. Blood lead level data have limitations as testing, reporting, and completeness vary across states. Mapping tools and approaches developed by federal agencies and other groups for different purposes present an opportunity for greater collaboration. Maps, data visualization tools, and analyses that synthesize available geospatial efforts can be evaluated and improved with local knowledge and blood lead data to refine identification of high-risk locations for prioritizing prevention efforts and targeting risk-reduction strategies. Remaining challenges are discussed along with a work-in-progress systematic approach for cross-agency data integration, toward advancing “whole-of-government” public health protection from lead exposures.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Lead Data Mapping to Prioritize US Locations for Whole-of-Government Exposure Prevention Efforts: State of the Science, Federal Collaborations, and Remaining Challenges