Kristina M Zierold1, Jeff Havlena, Henry Anderson. 1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. kzierold@wfubmc.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We determined the length of time needed to make homes lead-safe in a population of children aged 0 to 6 years with blood lead levels (BLLs) of 20 micrograms per deciliter (mug/dL) or greater. Reducing this time would reduce children's exposure to lead. METHODS: Data came from the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program's comprehensive blood lead surveillance system. Analysis was restricted to children whose first BLL test value during 1996-1999 was between 20 and 40 mug/dL and for whom housing intervention data were available (n=382). RESULTS: The median length of time required to make a home lead-safe was 465 days. Only 18% of children lived in homes that were made lead-safe within 6 months; 45% lived in homes requiring more than 18 months to be lead-safe. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts are needed to reduce the time it takes to make a home lead-safe. Although abatement orders always include time limits, improved compliance with the orders must be enforced. Greater emphasis should be placed on securing lead-safe or lead-free housing for families, thus reducing lead exposure.
OBJECTIVES: We determined the length of time needed to make homes lead-safe in a population of children aged 0 to 6 years with blood lead levels (BLLs) of 20 micrograms per deciliter (mug/dL) or greater. Reducing this time would reduce children's exposure to lead. METHODS: Data came from the Wisconsin Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program's comprehensive blood lead surveillance system. Analysis was restricted to children whose first BLL test value during 1996-1999 was between 20 and 40 mug/dL and for whom housing intervention data were available (n=382). RESULTS: The median length of time required to make a home lead-safe was 465 days. Only 18% of children lived in homes that were made lead-safe within 6 months; 45% lived in homes requiring more than 18 months to be lead-safe. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts are needed to reduce the time it takes to make a home lead-safe. Although abatement orders always include time limits, improved compliance with the orders must be enforced. Greater emphasis should be placed on securing lead-safe or lead-free housing for families, thus reducing lead exposure.
Authors: Patrick Breysse; Nick Farr; Warren Galke; Bruce Lanphear; Rebecca Morley; Linda Bergofsky Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2004-11 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: David E Jacobs; Robert P Clickner; Joey Y Zhou; Susan M Viet; David A Marker; John W Rogers; Darryl C Zeldin; Pamela Broene; Warren Friedman Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 9.031