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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
5006.0: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - Board 5

Abstract #104283

Epidemiology and Linking of Oklahoma Childhood Blood Lead Poisoning and Environmental Hazards, Oklahoma, 1995-2003

Elizabeth P. Kruger, MPH1, Hub B. Baggett, MS2, Amy E. Fletcher, BA1, Cheryl Barr, MPH1, and Edd Rhoades, MD, MPH1. (1) Screening, Special Services, and SoonerStart, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 Northeast Tenth Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299, (405) 271-6617, elizabek@health.state.ok.us, (2) Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Customer Services, 707 N. Robinson, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1677

In the United States (U.S.), childhood lead poisoning (CLP) remains a serious and preventable environmental health issue. About one million children 6 years or younger in the U.S. have blood lead levels (BLL) of at least 10mg/dL, a level high enough to adversely affect their intelligence, behavior and development. Nearly all CLP cases were attributed to some environmental exposure. This presentation examines spatial relationships between the homes of children with elevated BLL and potential environmental lead hazards in Oklahoma. Using Geographic Information Systems and SaTScan spatial cluster analysis software, researchers analyzed and mapped the home locations of children tested for lead poisoning from the Oklahoma CLP prevention program database. The locations of environmental lead hazards such as Superfund sites, Toxic Release Inventory sites, and Air Emission Inventory sites were also mapped. Visual and statistical analysis was conducted to determine environmental lead hazard relationships with childhood BLL. From 1995-2003, annual elevated blood lead cases have declined while the number of children tested has increased. Elevated blood lead level rates are highest among children between 12 to 23 months of age, which is the age most children are more mobile. Childhood blood lead levels are slightly higher in areas within 3 miles of environmental lead hazards. Lead exposure from housing built before 1978 is still seen as the greatest lead poisoning threat for children.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Environmental Health Hazards, Lead

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

How Environment Can Affect Health: A Selection of Health Outcomes

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA