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

Abstract #116030

Pamela Louise Smith, MS, REHS, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 109 S Observatory 3537 SPH I, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, (989) 758-3758, psmith@saginawcounty.com and Jerome Nriagu, PhD, Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 109 Oabservatory Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

Although two independent health problems, lead poisoning and asthma are interconnected in that risk factors for both are linked to substandard housing. Governmental and private agencies throughout the country have implemented Healthy Homes Initiatives, where the assumption is that there exists a potential for childhood lead poisoning and asthma co-morbidity and that techniques used to reduce childhood lead poisoning will result in reduction of asthma. Though there is a growing effort based on this assumption, there is little or no empirical data which suggest that there is an increased likelihood that a child with lead poisoning will be asthmatic.

In seeking to fill this gap in literature, I undertook a cross sectional study involving 353 households in an urban area in Michigan. Based upon the literature regarding the common environmental risk factors for childhood lead poisoning and asthma, I hypothesized that children with lead-poisoning are more likely to be dual-diagnosed with asthma. The Statewide STELLAR database was used to identify the households for study. Three hundred fifty-six index children enrolled in the study were found to have blood lead level data listed.

Inconsistent with a recently published study by Myers et al (2002), the results of my study indicate that there is an increased likelihood that children who are lead poisoned are asthmatic. In spite of present results, it is concluded that continued consideration should be given to policies that involve merging prevention and treatment techniques which simultaneously address both childhood lead poisoning and asthma.

Learning Objectives: After attending this session, attendees will be familiar with

• the relationship amoungst lead poisoned children, children with BLL ≥10µg/dL, and children with asthma; and
• the environmental risk factors found in housing units which cause and/or exacerbate childhood lead poisoning and/or asthma.

Keywords: Asthma, 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.