Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104283

Elizabeth P. Kruger, MPH¹, Hub B. Baggett, MS², Amy E. Fletcher, BA¹, Cheryl Barr, MPH¹, and Edd Rhoades, MD, MPH¹. (1) Screening, Special Services, and SoonerStart, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 Northeast Tenth Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299, (405) 271-6617, elizabek@health.state.ok.us, (2) Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Customer Services, 707 N. Robinson, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1677

In the United States (U.S.), childhood lead poisoning (CLP) remains a serious and preventable environmental health issue. About one million children 6 years or younger in the U.S. have blood lead levels (BLL) of at least 10mg/dL, a level high enough to adversely affect their intelligence, behavior and development. Nearly all CLP cases were attributed to some environmental exposure. This presentation examines spatial relationships between the homes of children with elevated BLL and potential environmental lead hazards in Oklahoma. Using Geographic Information Systems and SaTScan spatial cluster analysis software, researchers analyzed and mapped the home locations of children tested for lead poisoning from the Oklahoma CLP prevention program database. The locations of environmental lead hazards such as Superfund sites, Toxic Release Inventory sites, and Air Emission Inventory sites were also mapped. Visual and statistical analysis was conducted to determine environmental lead hazard relationships with childhood BLL. From 1995-2003, annual elevated blood lead cases have declined while the number of children tested has increased. Elevated blood lead level rates are highest among children between 12 to 23 months of age, which is the age most children are more mobile. Childhood blood lead levels are slightly higher in areas within 3 miles of environmental lead hazards. Lead exposure from housing built before 1978 is still seen as the greatest lead poisoning threat for children.

Learning Objectives:

• · Participants will learn about Oklahoma’s spatial relationships between environmental lead hazards and childhood blood lead levels.
• · This presentation demonstrates the effective use of graphical information systems in public health research and outreach.
• · Participants will be able to identify and prioritize childhood environmental lead hazards in their area.

Keywords: Environmental Health Hazards, Lead

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.