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

Abstract #61161

Warren J. Strauss, ScM¹, Timothy Pivetz, MS¹, Peter J. Ashley, DrPH², and Sharon Cameron, MPA³. (1) Statistics and Data Analysis Systems, Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43201-2693, (2) 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, (3) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 56 Roland Street, Suite 100, Boston, MA 02129

This study is part of HUD’s overall program evaluation strategy for documenting the effectiveness of their Lead Hazard Control (LHC) Grant Program at reducing childhood lead poisoning. Childhood blood-lead surveillance data and housing data were merged in order to evaluate the primary prevention effectiveness of LHC treatments conducted in four Massachusetts cities (Boston, Cambridge, Malden and Springfield). The history of childhood blood-lead levels was documented in (1) housing units that were treated through HUD's LHC Grantee Program, (2) matched control (untreated) housing units, and (3) matched housing units that were treated independently from the HUD Grant Program. Housing information from several data sources were combined in this analysis, including a database of HUD treated units, residential tax assessor data, and a database storing information on risk assessments and clearance testing conducted throughout Massachusetts. A matching algorithm was developed to select two untreated and one independently treated housing unit for each housing unit that was treated through the HUD grant program, on the basis of age, value, building type, and proximity. The study then merged childhood blood-lead surveillance data of children living in the selected housing units to compare blood-lead levels over several years spanning 1991 through 2001 in the treated and control housing over time to demonstrate changes in blood-lead levels attributable to the housing treatments. The results of this study will be presented to shed light on the impact of HUD’s Grant Program as well as Massachusetts regulations for the conduct of LHC in at-risk housing.

Learning Objectives:

• As a result of attending this presentation, conference participants will:
• 1. Learn about Federal requirements for conducting LHC in eligible at-risk housing through HUD’s grant program, and additional requirements on the conduct of LHC in the State of Massachusetts.
• 2. Understand the study methods used to combine existing data sources to conduct a retrospective program evaluation.
• 3. Be able to articulate the measurable impact that lead hazard control treatments have on lowering childhood blood-lead levels in higher-risk Massachusetts communities.

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.