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

Abstract #116200

Merle J. Weitz, MSW, Adrienne Mossop, BS, and Judy Donlen, RN, DNSc, JD. Wipe Out Lead New Jersey, Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 250, Pennsauken, NJ 08109-4613, 856 665-6000 ext 222, mweitz@snjpc.org

Children exposed to lead-based paint are at risk of brain and central nervous system damage, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, and possibly even seizures, mental retardation, coma or death. Irreversible damage can result from even minimal exposure to lead dust, therefore, primary prevention to identify and reduce lead exposure during the prenatal period is optimal. Wipe Out Lead New Jersey (WOLNJ) is an initiative, funded by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, to provide at-home lead dust test kits and educational information to eligible participants through prenatal sites in sixteen cities throughout the state. These target cities have populations of at least 30,000 and report the highest number of documented elevated blood lead levels in children. The statewide Maternal/Child Health Consortia (MCHC) outreach staff receive training to encourage parents to perform the test and return samples to the lab in the pre stamped envelope provided with the kit. Parents are told that they will receive a supermarket gift card for returning the test samples. Prenatal home visitors also review preventative cleaning and nutrition strategies. Samples will be analyzed and results sent back to WOLNJ and to the expectant parents. Families with homes that test positive for lead contamination will be contacted by WOLNJ staff who will collaborate with the local MCHC and public health department to offer follow-up support, and referral to local lead harm reduction resources. The testing of all children in the home under age 6 will be recommended.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session,the participant will be able to

• Identify four illnesses that can occur as a result of children under 6 being exposed to lead paint and other lead sources in the home.
• List three sources of lead in the home that can result in a child having elevated blood lead levels.
• Describe three prevention techniques that parents can easily perform to reduce their children's risk of lead poisoning from harmful lead sources in the home.

Keywords: Children's Health, 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.