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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Kathlynn Northrup-Snyder, PhD, RN, CNS, Community Health Concepts, 1243 SE Jefferson, Dallas, OR 97338, 503-930-5097, kns_cns@msn.com, Laurel A. Sharmer, PhD, MPH, CHES, Department of Community Health, State University of New York at Potsdam, Maxcy Hall #256, Potsdam, NY 13676, and Wenyen Juan, PhD, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, US Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1034, Alexandria, VA 22302.

Public health nurses have successfully designed and participated in programs to meet the recommendations of Healthy People 2010 and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Research has determined children with elevated blood lead levels are primarily from families of lower socioeconomic status. However, today's home and garden fashions suggest a new lead exposure hazard and another population focus for education and assessment. Decorator objects and furniture with worn or eroded paint surfaces are widely promoted in the popular media. Thirty-two such items were purchased from antiques stores throughout the United States in 2005, totaling $495.00. Using lead check swabs, 28 of the items (88%) positively tested for lead. An additional eight items testing positive were photographed but not purchased and would have cost $2,255.00. Decorating magazines and television shows target middle and upper-income families encouraging creative use of similar merchandise. The items were categorized as being painted wood, painted metal, painted glass, pewter or ceramic, and miscellaneous. Each item was further cross-categorized as to its attractiveness to children and its potential to be used to store, prepare or serve food or beverages. Thirty-nine percent of the items were toys or would be attractive to children, and 42% had potential food or beverage contacts. Quantitative analyses of the lead content in each item are ongoing and will be presented along with recommendations for public health promotion and education for this new public health hazard.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. PHNs will be able to describe the overall issues of a new lead hazard concern and the population it.
• 2. PHNs will be able to list at least 3 potential sources of this new lead hazard.
• 3. PHNs will be able to describe health education and policy issues related to public understanding of this new lead hazard.

Keywords: Child Health Promotion, Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation