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Abstract #152008

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Danielle Greene, DrPH¹, Diana P. DeMartini, MPH, CHES¹, Deborah Nagin, MPH¹, Slavenka Sedlar, MA², and Barbara Candalla, BS¹. (1) Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 253 Broadway, New York, NY 10007, 212-442-3051, dgreene@health.nyc.gov, (2) Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, 253 Broadway, 12th Floor, CN-58, New York, NY 10007

In 2005, 875 children were identified with blood lead levels at or above the level requiring environmental intervention in NYC. Twenty percent of these children were foreign-born, compared to fourteen percent of children in NYC. The most frequently reported countries of birth for foreign-born children with lead-poisoning were Haiti, Mexico, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China, however the most frequently reported countries of birth for all foreign-born children in NYC were the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, China and Ecuador. In addition, a lead paint hazard was identified in only 63% of the homes foreign-born children with lead poisoning live in, compared with 81% of U.S.-born children with lead poisoning. Among the 84 pregnant women with blood lead levels above the intervention level identified in 2005, 98% were foreign-born and 57% were born in Mexico. By comparison, just 52% of births in NYC were to foreign-born women in 2005 and 6% of births in NYC were to women born in Mexico. This presentation will describe the possible sources of lead exposure for foreign-born children and pregnant women as well as the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Lead Poisoning Prevention Program's efforts to develop culturally sensitive and appropriate environmental interventions, educational materials, and partnerships to reduce lead poisoning among foreign-born residents of NYC.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the demographics of lead poisoning among foreign-born children and pregnant women in NYC
• Articulate at least three interventions the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has implemented to address the issue
• Apply the steps taken by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to develop culturally sensitive and appropriate materials and partnerships in their own communities

Keywords: Lead, Immigrants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout