The effects of home lead abatements on childhood blood lead levels: a retrospective follow-up study.
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| Title: | The effects of home lead abatements on childhood blood lead levels: a retrospective follow-up study. |
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| Authors: | Rich DQ (AUTHOR), Rhoads GG (AUTHOR), Wartenberg D (AUTHOR), Sweatlock J (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Environmental Health. Jun2001, Vol. 63 Issue 10, p9-15. 7p. |
| Abstract: | Home abatement is the environmental intervention most common ly mandated by law for children with lead poisoning. Previous studies of abatement efficacy, however, have yielded inconsistent results and have left doubt about the long-term effectiveness of this intervention in reducing children's blood lead levels. For this study, the authors analyzed 488 children six years old or less who had been reported to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services from 1993 to 1997 with blood lead levels of 30 to 44 micrograms per deciliter (microg/dL); each of the children analyzed also had a follow-up blood lead test at least two months after abatement if an abatement was completed, or two months after baseline if an abatement was not completed. Although home abatements were recommended for all children, they were not completed in 118 cases. A significant difference (p < .0l) was seen in the mean declines of blood lead levels between children in abated homes (-10.1 micrg/dL, or -28.5 percent) and those in unabated homes (-7.3 microg/dL, or -20.8 percent). This difference was partially due to longer follow-up in the group that received abatement. When this difference was adjusted in a multiple regression for age, time to follow-up, baseline blood lead level, socioeconomic factors, and season-with time to follow-up restricted to 70-400 days-the overall difference in decline of blood lead levels decreased from 7.7 percent to two percent. When the same restriction was applied with adjustment for the same confounders in a logistic regression and the probability of a decline of >4 microg/dL was modeled, abatement had minimal effect (odds ratio =1.4; 95 percent confidence interval = 0.7, 2.5). Thus, lead paint abatements, as required in New Jersey from 1993 to1997, are of only modest efficacy in reducing children's blood lead levels. Stronger regulations, better enforcement, and more attention to lead-contaminated dust should be evaluated as ways of better protecting lead-exposed children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| URL: | 4520144 |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Abstract: | Home abatement is the environmental intervention most common ly mandated by law for children with lead poisoning. Previous studies of abatement efficacy, however, have yielded inconsistent results and have left doubt about the long-term effectiveness of this intervention in reducing children's blood lead levels. For this study, the authors analyzed 488 children six years old or less who had been reported to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services from 1993 to 1997 with blood lead levels of 30 to 44 micrograms per deciliter (microg/dL); each of the children analyzed also had a follow-up blood lead test at least two months after abatement if an abatement was completed, or two months after baseline if an abatement was not completed. Although home abatements were recommended for all children, they were not completed in 118 cases. A significant difference (p < .0l) was seen in the mean declines of blood lead levels between children in abated homes (-10.1 micrg/dL, or -28.5 percent) and those in unabated homes (-7.3 microg/dL, or -20.8 percent). This difference was partially due to longer follow-up in the group that received abatement. When this difference was adjusted in a multiple regression for age, time to follow-up, baseline blood lead level, socioeconomic factors, and season-with time to follow-up restricted to 70-400 days-the overall difference in decline of blood lead levels decreased from 7.7 percent to two percent. When the same restriction was applied with adjustment for the same confounders in a logistic regression and the probability of a decline of >4 microg/dL was modeled, abatement had minimal effect (odds ratio =1.4; 95 percent confidence interval = 0.7, 2.5). Thus, lead paint abatements, as required in New Jersey from 1993 to1997, are of only modest efficacy in reducing children's blood lead levels. Stronger regulations, better enforcement, and more attention to lead-contaminated dust should be evaluated as ways of better protecting lead-exposed children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00220892 |
