Wisconsin children at risk for lead poisoning

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Pediatric Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• A 1999 US Government Accounting Agency (GAO) report identified high lead poisoning rates and low blood lead testing among children in federal health care programs.
• This national finding indicated a critical gap in lead exposure prevention and screening for vulnerable pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate lead poisoning and blood lead testing rates in Wisconsin children enrolled in Medicaid and the WIC Program.
• To analyze the overlap between children receiving Medicaid/WIC services and those diagnosed with lead poisoning.

Main Methods:

• Matching Wisconsin's blood lead test data with Medicaid eligibility and WIC Program enrollment files for the year 1999.
• Analyzing screened and poisoned children's data within these matched datasets.

Main Results:

• Wisconsin's findings mirrored national trends, with approximately 50% of children in Medicaid and WIC receiving blood lead screenings.
• The majority of lead-poisoned children in Wisconsin were enrolled in Medicaid (80%) and WIC (60%).
• Lead-coated surfaces and deterioration were identified as primary sources of lead poisoning in severely affected children.

Conclusions:

• The study supports Wisconsin's recommendations for universal blood lead testing in 1- and 2-year-olds residing in older or renovated housing.
• It also advocates for blood lead testing for all children enrolled in Medicaid or WIC programs.
• Targeted screening within these programs is crucial for identifying and intervening in childhood lead poisoning effectively.