Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106667

Laurel A. Sharmer, Phd, MPH, CHES, Department of Community Health, SUNY Potsdam, Maxcy Hall, Potsdam, NY 13676, 315-267-3136, sharmela@potsdam.edu, WenYen Juan, PhD, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, 3101 Park Center Drive, room 1034, Alexandria, VA 22302, and Kathlynn Northrup-Snyder, RN, PhD, CNS, Community Health/Health Promotion, Consultant, 1243 SE Jefferson, Dallas, OR 97338.

Until 1979 The US Consumer Product Safety Commission allowed lead-based-paint to be sold for interior and exterior residential use. Paints for hobbies, ceramics and metals also contained significant amounts of lead. “Shabby chic” is a new decorating trend that promotes the use antique items in varying states of disrepair. Many shabby chic items have peeling paint that may represent a severe lead poisoning risk if the item is in a home with children. The 2004 issues of four home decorating magazines were analyzed for their visual and written promotion of such items. All four magazines have circulations in excess of 2 million readers. Twenty-two percent of the non-advertising photographs in magazine “A” contained items with peeling paint and 70% of the photos were promoted with text. Eighty-one percent of the items were furniture and 69% were positioned in the photograph in such a way as to be accessible to children. Magazine “B” was similar to magazine “A” in photo layout and numbers of items. Magazines “C” and “D” had fewer items with peeling paint, but still promoted some items with photos and text. Some photos were especially egregious and included several cutting boards with food in contact with the peeling paint on the board, peeling paint on an iron bed and toy chest in a child's bedroom, and window frames used as art objects in a garden. It is recommended that such items be purchased and analyzed for lead content, with a national educational program to follow.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session the participants will

• Describe the extent of media promotion of decorating items that contain peeling paint.
• State the extent of the decorating trend that promotes items that potentially pose a lead-poisoning risk to children.
• List four popular items that are used for home decoration that may present a lead-poisoning risk to children in the home.
• Describe methods for educating the general public about such potential hazards.

Keywords: Child Health, 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.