Childhood lead poisoning continues to disproprtionately effect disadvantaged communities across the United States. Similarly, childhood lead poisonig was identified as the number one environmental threat to children's health by the US EPA in 1994 in Chester, a city of over 40,000 in southeastern part of Pennsylvania. Because of target-based interventions in the areas of prevention and control ranging from education and screening to lead-based paint hazard reduction in housing units, the cases of acute lead poisoning have more or less become a relatively rare event. However, concurrently, this virtual elimination of acute cases has led to either a growing disease burden and in number of new kids being identified with slightly elevated blood levels (EBLs)i.e between > 10 - <25 ug/dl or a continuance of children with similar slightly EBLs even after a year of follow-up.
The presentation will discuss the risk factors that predispose or reinforce continuation of such EBLs in marginalised communities and the specificities in remedial interventions required to achieve a drop in such low level but persistent EBLs.
See chestercity.comLearning Objectives: 1. Recognise emerging patterns of childhood lead poisoning inmarginalised communities 2. Discuss interventions unique and specific to remediate slightly but chronically raised blood lead levels in children
Keywords: Children, Environmental Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.