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Blood lead levels among children of lead-exposed workers: A meta-analysis
R J Roscoe1, J L Gittleman, J A Deddens
1National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinatti, OH 45226, USA. rjr1@cdc.gov
Insights
Children of lead-exposed workers have significantly higher blood lead levels (BLLs). Targeted blood lead screening is recommended for these families to mitigate risks associated with lead exposure.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Occupational lead exposure poses risks to children via take-home exposures.
- Assessing the utility of targeted blood lead screening in at-risk households is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate blood lead levels in U.S. children (ages 1-5) exposed to lead through household members with occupational lead exposure.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of targeted blood lead screening for children in these households.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis was conducted on 10 U.S. reports (1987-1994) including data on children's blood lead levels (BLLs), ages, and workers' occupations and BLLs.
- Inclusion criteria required data from at least five children and specified data collection methods.
Main Results:
- Children of lead-exposed workers (n=139) had a geometric mean BLL of 9.3 microg/dL, significantly higher than the U.S. population mean of 3.6 microg/dL (P=0.0006).
- 52% of these children had BLLs ≥ 10 microg/dL, compared to 8.9% in the general U.S. population (P=.0010).
- 21% had BLLs ≥ 20 microg/dL, versus 1.1% in the U.S. (P=.0258).
Conclusions:
- Approximately 48,000 families with young children live with occupationally lead-exposed household members.
- Findings suggest about half of young children in these families may have BLLs ≥ 10 microg/dL.
- Targeted blood lead screening for children of lead-exposed workers is supported by these findings.
Background:
To further assess the utility of targeted blood lead screening for children from households with members having occupational lead exposures, we conducted a meta-analysis of all available reports of take-home lead exposures. Our objective was to estimate the blood lead levels among U.S. children (ages 1-5) from households with lead-exposed workers.
Methods:
Reports considered for inclusion were cited in Medline, Toxline, Excerpta Medica, and Bio-Med plus all unpublished reports available at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health through 1994. The a priori criteria for inclusion of U.S. reports required their having data on: (1) venous blood lead levels for children, (2) children's ages, (3) data for at least five children, (4) workers' occupations, (5) workers' blood lead levels, and (6) data collection methods.
Results:
Based on a meta-analysis of 10 reports from 1987 through 1994, the children (n=139) of lead-exposed workers (n=222) had a geometric mean blood lead level of 9.3 microg/dL compared to a U.S. population geometric mean of 3.6 microg/dL (P=0.0006). Also in this group, 52% of the children had blood lead levels (BLLs) >/= 10 microg/dL compared to 8.9% in the U.S. (P=.0010), and 21% of the children had BLLs >/= 20 microg/dL compared to 1.1% in the U.S. (P=. 0258).
Conclusions:
We estimate, based on 1981-83 survey data, that there are about 48,000 families with children under six living with household members occupationally exposed to lead. If the findings from this meta-analysis (admittedly limited by small numbers) are generalizable, about half of the young children in these families may have BLLs >/= 10 microg/dL. Data were too sparse to determine if children of workers with elevated blood leads were at greater risk than children whose parents were only known to be lead exposed. Our findings support the position that children of lead-exposed workers should be targeted for blood lead screening. Am. J. Ind. Med. 36:475-481, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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