The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74222

Amy G. Cantor, MHS¹, Lynn Goldman, MD, MPH², Joseph G. Courtney, PhD³, and David Kattari³. (1) School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 5303 Hamilton-Wolfe Rd, #820, San Antonio, TX 78229, 210-696-1867, amycantor@yahoo.com, (2) Department of Environmental Health Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Room 8511, Baltimore, MD 21205, (3) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1801, Oakland, CA 94612

An overwhelming proportion of childhood lead poisoning cases in California are Hispanic. Although it is recognized that minority groups have a higher risk of lead poisoning, differences in the sources of lead poisoning for these groups have not been thoroughly assessed. We used surveillance data from the California Department of Health Services to evaluate specific risks for childhood lead poisoning and to compare differences in identified exposure sources between Hispanics and non-Hispanics. Folk remedies that have been identified as sources of lead poisoning and other culturally related sources of lead exposure, such as imported candies and pottery, were also considered. A total of 1621 cases were reported in California between 1999 and 2000, with Hispanics representing 81.3% of all childhood lead poisoning cases. Paint was the leading source of child lead poisoning-- 57% of those cases that had a source identified had paint as a source of exposure. There were population-specific exposures that were more prevalent among Hispanics. Hispanics were more than six times as likely to have had a folk remedy as a source of lead exposure than non-Hispanics (Odds Ratio = 6.52; 95% confidence interval: 3.15-13.5). Hispanics were less likely to have had leaded paint as a source than non-Hispanics (Odds Ratio=0.67; 95% confidence interval: 0.48-0.92). These findings indicate that the disproportionate number of Hispanic lead poisoning cases may be partially due to different exposures among this population, and that some of these exposures may be culturally linked.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to:
• Identify and categorize the differences in sources of lead exposure for Hispanic and non-Hispanic children
• Describe culturally related sources of lead exposure and distinct folk remedies that have been identified as common sources of lead poisoning
• Recognize populations at risk for lead poisoning

Keywords: Hispanic Youth, Lead

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.