Innovative policy strategies and community partnerships for eliminating childhood lead poisoning


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

4016.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 8:45 AM

Abstract #117129

Danielle Greene, DrPH, Deborah Nagin, MPH, Parisa Tehranifar, DrPH, and Carol Steinsapir. Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 253 Broadway CN-58, New York, NY 10007, 212-676-6105, dnagin@health.nyc.gov

Achieving the Healthy People 2010 goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning requires increasing emphasis on primary prevention, community partnerships, and concentration on non-traditional sources of lead exposure. As one of 42 childhood lead poisoning prevention programs (CLPPP) funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York City Department of Health has been working toward this goal through the establishment of a Technical Advisory Committee; development of a Childhood Lead Poisoning Elimination Plan that incorporates activities by the Departments of Health, Housing and Environmental Protection; and collaborations with special populations at high risk for lead poisoning. Using these examples from the NYC experience, this presentation will highlight the major components of a comprehensive childhood lead poisoning elimination plan and the partnerships needed to implement it. Plan components include reducing paint and non-paint sources of lead exposure in children, policy approaches to reducing exposure, and strategies for targeted screening, education, and outreach. The presentation will continue by describing policy efforts in New York City to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Legislative examples include the city's new primary prevention law focused on lead paint and housing and changes in the local health code requiring hardware and paint stores to post signage prohibiting dry scraping and dry sanding. Policy, educational, and community efforts such as addressing contaminated food products and reducing exposure to lead from jewelry, home remedies, and water will also be addressed.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

1. Articulate at least four components of a comprehensive strategy to support the elimination of childhood lead poisoning.
2. Recognize the potential impact of legislative changes as an approach to eliminating childhood lead poisoning
3. List policy and educational approaches undertaken by NYC to address non-paint sources of lead exposure.

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.

Evidence of the Environment's Relationship to Health

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA