The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59912

Warren J. Strauss, ScM¹, Jean Wendt², Peter J. Ashley, DrPH³, Warren Galke, PhD⁴, Pat McLaine, RN, MPH⁵, and Amy Murphy, MPH². (1) Statistics and Data Analysis Systems, Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43201-2693, 614 424 4275, strauss@battelle.org, (2) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Milwaukee Health Department, 841 North Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202, (3) Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Room P3206, 451 7th St., SW, Washington, DC, DC 20410, (4) The National Center for Healthy Housing, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Suite 100, Columbia, MD 21044, (5) National Center for Healthy Housing, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Suite 100, Columbia, MD 21044

This research project grew from passage of a local Milwaukee ordinance that sought to reduce lead risks in rental housing in two high risk areas. Experience gained from previous lead hazard control (LHC) efforts was incorporated into the ordinance. This locally derived approach to LHC relies on standardized housing treatments designed to eliminate lead hazards on window components, and make interior and exterior painted surfaces intact. The primary prevention effectiveness of Milwaukee’s treatment strategy is being evaluated using a prospective longitudinal study that monitors a sample of pre-1950 Milwaukee housing units and resident newborn children. The study assesses blood-lead concentration of subject children, and dust-lead loadings and the physical condition of treated housing units at times corresponding to each subject’s 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month birthdays. A comparison population was constructed using carefully timed one-year follow-up screenings of similarly aged children who: (1) had record of a previous blood-lead test result in Milwaukee’s screening database, and (2) were living in pre-1950 Milwaukee housing units that had not yet received LHC treatment over that one-year period of time. Data collection will be complete through the 18-month sampling campaign for all participant children in time for this presentation. These data will be analyzed to determine whether Milwaukee’s LHC strategy is associated with statistically significant declines in the rate of blood-lead accumulation among resident children. Additional information related to dust-lead loadings and the physical condition of housing units over time will also be used to assess the environmental efficacy of Milwaukee’s standardized treatments.

Learning Objectives:

• As a result of attending this presentation, conference participants will:
• 1. Learn about the standardized lead hazard control treatments that were incorporated into the Milwaukee local ordinance.
• 2. Understand the primary prevention effect that Milwaukee’s standardized LHC treatments had on keeping the blood-lead levels of resident children at lower levels than children living in similar untreated housing.
• 3. Understand how dust-lead levels and the physical condition of treated housing units change over time.

Keywords: Lead, Children's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.