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Old paint removal and blood lead levels in children
M N Bates1, R Wyatt, N Garrett
1Epidemiology Group, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd, Porirua.
Insights
High-temperature paint removal and lead-related hobbies increase children's blood lead levels. Safer paint removal methods are recommended to protect young children from lead exposure.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Toxicology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Lead exposure in young children poses significant health risks.
- Older housing stock often contains lead-based paint, a common source of exposure during renovations.
- Understanding specific risk factors is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors for elevated blood lead levels in children aged 12-24 months.
- To investigate the role of paint removal and cleanup practices in lead exposure.
- To assess lead absorption risks in Wellington city children.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of children from homes with recent paint removal (residences >50 years old).
- Interviews with caregivers, blood lead level testing of children, and collection of kitchen floor dust wipe samples.
- Analysis of blood and dust samples for lead content.
Main Results:
- Mean blood lead level was 0.24 mumol/L (5.06 micrograms/dL) in 141 children.
- Higher blood lead levels correlated with lower income, playing outside, geophagia, and parental lead use in hobbies.
- High-temperature paint removal (e.g., blow torches) was a significant risk factor; dust wipes had low predictive value.
Conclusions:
- High-temperature paint removal methods and parental hobbies involving lead are associated with elevated childhood lead levels.
- Eliminating high-temperature paint removal is advised due to safer alternatives.
- Further research is needed on lead absorption risks from hobbies.
Aim:
To identify risk factors, particularly paint removal and clean up practices, for elevated blood lead levels in children, 12 to 24 months old, living in Wellington city.
Methods:
Children living in residences more than 50 years old, where residential paint removal had taken place in the last two years, were recruited. Care givers were interviewed, a blood sample was taken from the child's arm and a dust wipe sample was collected from the kitchen floor. Blood and dust samples were analysed for lead content.
Results:
Data were collected for 141 children (75% of those eligible). The mean blood lead level was 0.24 mumol/L (5.06 micrograms/dL). Higher blood levels were associated with lower income of the main family earner, playing outside, eating dirt and parental hobbies involving lead use. Children receiving regular medical treatment were at lower risk of lead absorption. With the exception of paint removal involving blow torches, none of the paint removal, clean up, or disposal practices was more strongly associated than the other methods with elevated blood lead levels in children living in the household. Dust wipes from the kitchen floor had little predictive value for blood lead level.
Conclusions:
High temperature methods of paint removal and parental hobbies involving lead are associated with higher lead levels in children. Given the availability of alternative means of paint removal, continuing use of high temperature methods is unnecessary. Further work is needed to assess lead absorption risks associated with hobbies involving lead.
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