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Blood lead levels among children in Hawaii
1Hawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring.
Insights
Hawaii children under 6 have a mean blood lead level of 4.5 µg/dL. A small percentage exceeded the screening level, indicating a need for targeted blood lead screening programs in Hawaii.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Lead exposure in children poses significant health risks.
- Understanding local blood lead levels is crucial for effective public health interventions.
- Hawaii has not previously had comprehensive data on childhood blood lead levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate blood lead levels (BLLs) in children under 6 in Hawaii.
- To identify specific populations at higher risk for elevated BLLs.
- To inform the development of a targeted blood lead screening program for Hawaii.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of children aged under 6 from Oahu and Maui.
- Administration of questionnaires and collection of blood samples for lead level testing.
- Analysis of BLLs considering demographic, geographic, and occupational factors.
Main Results:
- The mean BLL for 389 participants was 4.5 µg/dL.
- Twelve children (3%) had BLLs above 9 µg/dL; none exceeded 14 µg/dL.
- BLLs varied significantly by age, location, occupation, laboratory, and phlebotomy method.
Conclusions:
- While mean BLLs are relatively low, a subset of children requires attention.
- Geographic location and occupational factors are key indicators for high-risk populations.
- A targeted screening program focusing on identified risk factors is recommended for Hawaii.
Abstract:
The objectives of this study were to estimate blood lead levels of children under 6 years of age in the State of Hawaii, to identify high-risk populations, and to decide what kind of blood lead screening program is needed in Hawaii. Children from Oahu and Maui were recruited in medical care facilities and 6 preschools. Informed consent for a blood lead test was obtained from the parents. A questionnaire was administered whenever possible; participation/response rates were quite low, varying between 15% and 50%. The mean blood lead level for the 389 study participants was 4.5 micrograms/dL. Twelve children (3% of children tested) had a level above 9 micrograms/dL. No child was found to have a level above 14 micrograms/dL. Blood lead levels varied by age, geographic area, occupational factors, laboratory that performed the analysis, and type of phlebotomy (capillary versus venous) but not by sex, ethnicity or age of home. Follow-up investigations in the 12 homes of the children with levels above 9/lg/dL were performed and in 3 homes a possible source of lead exposure was found.