Lead poisoning among foreign-born residents of New York City (NYC): Demographics and interventions

In 2005, 875 children were identified with blood lead levels at or above the level requiring environmental intervention in NYC. Twenty percent of these children were foreign-born, compared to fourteen percent of children in NYC. The most frequently reported countries of birth for foreign-born children with lead-poisoning were Haiti, Mexico, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China, however the most frequently reported countries of birth for all foreign-born children in NYC were the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, China and Ecuador. In addition, a lead paint hazard was identified in only 63% of the homes foreign-born children with lead poisoning live in, compared with 81% of U.S.-born children with lead poisoning. Among the 84 pregnant women with blood lead levels above the intervention level identified in 2005, 98% were foreign-born and 57% were born in Mexico. By comparison, just 52% of births in NYC were to foreign-born women in 2005 and 6% of births in NYC were to women born in Mexico. This presentation will describe the possible sources of lead exposure for foreign-born children and pregnant women as well as the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Lead Poisoning Prevention Program's efforts to develop culturally sensitive and appropriate environmental interventions, educational materials, and partnerships to reduce lead poisoning among foreign-born residents of NYC.