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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Masood Ali Shaikh, MD, MPH and Irshad A. Shaikh, MD, MPH, PhD. Health Dept., City of Chester, 5th & Welsh Streets, Municipal Building, Chester, PA 19013, (610) 447-7824, masoodshaikh1@yahoo.com
Problem of childhood lead poisoning continues to be a significant public health issue in urban communities through out the nation, disproportionately affecting minorities and low socioeconomic strata. Chester city is a small urban community of 38,000 in southeastern Pennsylvania with over 80% of housing stock built before 1978, and with one of the highest childhood lead poisoning rates in the State of PA. City health department has implemented multiple primary and secondary prevention initiatives in the city to adders this serious environmental threat to children’s health. As a result no acute level cases of lead poisoning have surfaced and over 90% of related disease burden comprises very low levels of lead poisoning. However, efforts required to address low level lead poisoning in children are costlier, complex, and difficult to implement and sustain.
This presentation will discuss the persistent decline in number as well as magnitude of childhood lead poisoning in the past decade in Chester and focus upon future challenges as the disease profile changes from an acute disease to that of a low level, chronic insidious disease.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, participants wil be able to
Keywords: Child Health,
Related Web page: www.chestercity.com
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Chester City Health Department, PA State Health Department
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.