209538 Waves of the future: Utilizing GIS Technology to assess risk for lead poisoning in Mississippi

Monday, November 9, 2009: 2:45 PM

Marinelle Payton, MD, PhD, MS, MPH , Center of Excellence in Minority Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, School of Health Sciences, College of Public Service, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Stevenson Paradeshi, BS , College of Science Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Despite substantial reduction in exposure to lead in the United States, children remain at-risk for one of the most preventable environmental diseases, lead poisoning. Although there are many sources of exposure, old homes with lead-based paint and lead in pipes are major sources of exposure. Mississippi is moving toward attaining the goal of Healthy People 2010 in eliminating health disparities in elevated blood lead levels in children by implementing an effective childhood lead poisoning prevention program. Utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) Technology, we have collected data on pre-1950 housing in Mississippi that may contain hazardous levels of lead (Part I) and utilized 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 objective of this study is to correlate blood lead levels with at-risk areas of housing. The relationship between the prevalence of childhood 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 and only 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 identifying older homes that might pose a risk through environmental exposure to lead in drinking water from lead pipes and inhalation of lead dust; assisting public health officials to develop effective targeted screening programs to improve children's health, and implementing and enforcing health and social resources to prevent childhood lead poisoning.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the potential risk associated with childhood lead poisoning and drinking water and pre-1950 homes and other dwellings in Mississippi. 2. Explain the usefulness of GIS Technology in identifying and preventing children at-risk for lead poisoning and related health disparities.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My longstanding research has focused on investigating the association of neurotoxins, lead poisoning, on various outcome measures. I originated the idea/research on Lead Exposure and Geographical Information Systems, studying high-risk areas of lead exposure in Mississippi. I have spoken extensively on these topics, in particular, at national and international meetings and conferences, and served as either principal investigator or co-principal investigator of these studies funded by the NIH and CDC. My research on lead exposure resulted in the publication of the first epidemiological study to report higher levels of blood and bone lead significantly associated with poorer performance on various parameters of cognitive function.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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