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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Marinelle Payton, MD, PhD, MS, MPH and Stevenson Paradeshi, BS. Jackson State University, College of Public Service, School of Public Health, Jackson Medical Mall - Thad Cochran Center, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Suite 2280, Jackson, MS 39213, 601-979-1101, marinelle.payton@jsums.edu

Children have a right to a healthy environment; however, despite substantial reduction in the exposure to lead in the United States, studies show that they remain at-risk for one of the most preventable environmental diseases -- lead poisoning -- where lead-based paint is one of the major sources of exposure. To implement an effective childhood lead poisoning prevention program, Mississippi is moving toward attaining the goal of Healthy People 2010 in eliminating elevated blood lead levels in children. To date, utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) Technology, we have collected data on pre-1950 housing in Mississippi that may contain hazardous levels of lead dust (Part I). Most importantly, the objective of this study (Part II) is to utilize GIS Technology to geocode at-risk pre-1950 housing (and at-risk areas with older housing) and addresses of children who were screened and tested for lead poisoning. The prevalence of lead poisoning cases and relative risks for housing will be determined. We expect that there will be a higher prevalence rate of lead poisoning in pre-1950 and older housing in comparison to post-1978 housing. This is the first study in the state of Mississippi to utilize GIS targeted screening to assess the risk of lead poisoning. This study has great public health significance in assisting public health officials to develop effective targeted screening programs to improve children's health, and to implement and enforce health and social resources to prevent childhood lead poisoning.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe childhood lead poisoning in the state of Mississippi.
• Articulate the potential risk associated with childhood lead poisoning and pre-1950 homes and other dwellings in Mississippi.
• Recognize the usefulness of GIS Technology in identifying children at-risk for lead poisoning.

Keywords: Environmental Health, Geographic Information Systems

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No