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Aggregate-level Lead Exposure and Child Maltreatment.
Jesse J Helton1, Erik J Nelson2, Brian B Boutwell1
1Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|December 10, 2020
Summary
Higher aggregate blood lead levels (BLL) are ecologically associated with increased rates of child maltreatment investigations. This environmental toxin may be a macro-level correlate, but further research is needed to confirm causality.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Child Development
Background:
- Child maltreatment is a significant public health concern.
- Environmental toxins, such as lead, have been linked to various adverse health outcomes.
- The ecological association between aggregate blood lead levels and child maltreatment requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the ecological association between aggregate blood lead levels (BLL) and rates of child maltreatment.
- To determine if areas with higher BLL exhibit higher rates of substantiated child maltreatment investigations.
Main Methods:
- Ecologic study design utilizing data from 59,645 child BLL tests (1996-2007) and 6,640 substantiated maltreatment investigations (2006-2016).
- Bayesian spatial Poisson conditional autoregressive (CAR) models were employed to analyze the data.
- Multivariate models controlled for crime rates, housing stock age, and concentrated disadvantage.
Main Results:
- Bivariate analysis indicated that aggregate maltreatment rates increased with aggregate BLL.
- Multivariate analysis revealed that medium- and high-exposure BLL census tracts had significantly increased odds of substantiated child maltreatment investigations (OR = 1.38).
- These associations persisted after controlling for socioeconomic and environmental factors.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a macro-level ecological association between aggregate lead exposure and child maltreatment.
- Elevated lead exposure areas may experience a confluence of adverse outcomes, including child maltreatment.
- Further research is necessary to establish causality and explore environmental toxin abatement as a potential prevention strategy.
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