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David
Bellinger, PhD, MSc, from the Children's Hospital in Boston,
in the April 2004 Pediatrics Supplement,
discusses the latest science on children's specific
vulnerability to the effects of lead exposure. The article
highlights differences between children and adults, identifies
critical windows of vunerability, impacts of lead beyond
lowered IQ, and the utility of animal and adult studies to
evaluate impacts on children.
One
of the key discussion points is the fact that the current
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention screening guideline
of 10 µg/dL for childhood lead poisoning is being interpreted
as a threshold for toxicity, not as a management tool. Indeed,
Bellinger finds that no threshold has been identified, and
some data are consistent with effects well below 10 µg/dL.
To download the
article click here
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Greetings!
Welcome
to Healthy Environment, Healthy Tomorrow, a service of the
Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) that offers you timely
information on the latest science and news regarding the link
between health and the environment, as well as links to
resources. We hope you will share this newsletter with
colleagues and friends!
In
this issue, we focus on lead, a heavy metal that in children,
can lead to lowered IQ, developmental and behavioral problems,
hyperactivity, and learning disabilities, as well as speech
and language delays. Lead exposure has also been linked to
health problems such as dementia in older people and most
recently in a study published in JAMA, lead
exposure was linked to the development of cataracts in
adult men.
Official
rates of childhood lead poisoning have declined around the
nation and in Oregon. According to the Oregon Department of
Human Services, the current prevalence of childhood lead
poisoning in Oregon is 1-2%
of Oregon children under 6 (approximately 2,500-4,000
children). However, recent science suggests harm at levels
significantly below the official definition of poisoning. Most
children are exposed to lead from household dust containing
lead from lead-based paint.
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Protect Kids from Lead in
Candy |
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 Lead
is being found in candies, primarily certain candies imported
from Mexico. An alert from the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) said examples of candies that contain
lead include lollipops coated with chili and powdery mixtures
of salt, lemon flavor and chili seasoning sold as snack items.
While
some candies are banned from import, many slip by because they
are shipped in boxes not marked as food, or because the level
for allowable lead enforcement is set too high. An
investigative
report by the Orange County Register noted that regulators
identified over 112 brands of candy that include lead.
On
November 19th, the American
Public Health Association sent a letter to the FDA
encouraging them to lower their lead enforcement standards.
You can join their efforts and send a clear message to the FDA
that lead doesn't belong in food.
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Click here for a
draft letter to the FDA urging them to protect kids from lead
in
candy |
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Resources for Practitioners and
Parents |
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The
Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) developed a lead
risk assessment questionnaire to help clinicians target their
lead screening efforts. The questionnaire aims to identify the
known major risk factors for lead poisoning. DHS recommends
that health providers use the questionaire to assess children
for risk of lead exposure at 1 and 2 years of age and between
the ages 3 and 5 if not previously assessed. It is available
in several languages. For the questionnaire and other medical
provider information, click
here.
The
questionannaire is just one DHS tool. DHS has also developed
numerous resources to help inform parents and caregivers about
opportunities to reduce exposures including "Lead in Your
Home: A Parents Guide to Lead" to "Child Care Providers Guide
to Protect Kids." They also operate a lead line (1-800-
368-5060) where people can secure information about lead
exposures. The Environmental Protection Agency has also
produced a booklet entitled "Lead and a Healthy Diet: What You
Can Do to Protect Your Child" which provides simple steps to
reduce lead exposures. |
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For a full listing
of lead education resources click
here. |
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