Lead Poisoning in Shelby County Educational Presentation

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Educational Presentation   How to Reduce Lead
Poisoning in Children Who Reside in Shelby County
Tennessee   Marilyn Renae Burress   Walden
University PUBH-8165-3 Instructor Dr. Jeff
Wu   July 31, 2009
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Lead Poisoning in Shelby County Educational
Presentationby Marilyn R. BurressWalden
UniversityPh.D. StudentJuly 31, 2009

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Todays Learning Objectives

• What is lead?
• Sources of lead poisoning.
• How to detect lead poisoning?
• How lead affects children?
• How lead is detected?
• What is the lead poisoning status in Shelby
  County?
• What can we do in Shelby County to
• reduce childhood lead poisoning?

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What is lead?
Its a natural element that is

• Common/Everywhere
• Pewter, crystal, vinyl, jewelry, pottery
• Hobby exposure, commercial exposure
• Industrial exposure, occupational

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Lead May Be In Your Water.

• Lead can come from
• ?Lead plumbing, or
• fixtures in your home
• ?Low Lead in Shelby County water supply system

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Other Sources of Lead

• ? Old paint in home environments
• Soil
• Some ceramic items
• Some toys

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Lead May Be in Food and Beverages

• It can come from
• Production
• Packaging
• Storage

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Why Lead Is Especially Dangerous For Young
Children?

• Because they are
• are still developing
• absorb it more easily
• are more likelyto put things in their mouths

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Lead poisoning is Hard to Spot.

• Upset Stomach
• Loss of Appetite
• Constipation/Diarrhea
• Hyperactivity/Listlessness
• Mimic the Flu

• Sometimes There Are No Symptoms.

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How Can You Tell If A Child HasLead Poisoning?

• Screening is the only way
• to know for sure.

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Lead Affects the Brain and Nerves EvenAt Low
Exposure Levels.

• This may cause
• Learning Problems
• Growth Delays
• Violence/Crime
• Aggressive Behavior

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Effects Of High Lead Levels.

• Severe damage to the nervous system,
• including the brain
• Convulsions or coma
• Even death

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Death of a Child After Ingestion of a Metallic
Charm --- Minnesota,2006

• Heart-shaped charm bracelet that is the subject
  of a voluntary recall announced March 23, 2006 by
  Reebok International Ltd. and the Consumer
  Product Safety Division
• Source MMWR, Retrieved July 29, 2009 from
  http//www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm55d323a
  1.htm.

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What is lead poisoning?
10 CDC Action Level
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Shelby County Today

• 170,744 homes in Shelby contain Lead Based Paint.
• 23,455 children in Shelby County are below the
  poverty level.
• Hundreds of new children are diagnosed with Lead
  Poisoning every year.
• Source Shelby County Government Website

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Shelby County Today Cont.

• ? Children living below the poverty level are 13
  times likely to become lead poisoned.
• ?There are over 68,000 children under age 5
  residing in Shelby County, on 32 are being
  tested for lead poisoning by their medical
  provider.
• ? In Shelby County, we are screening a small
  percentage of the high risk population
• ? Every child under the age of six living in high
  risk areas should be screened.

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Shelby County 10 year Elevated Blood Lead Stats
In children under 72 months old
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High Risk Census Tracks
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The Problem

• Childhood lead poisoning is a major, preventable
  environmental health problem.

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What can we do in Shelby County to Decrease
Childhood Levels.
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Clean With Care.

• Always wet mop wet dust
• Use high phosphorus cleaning products.
• Use the right cleaning methods.
• Vacuum carefully.
• Keep children away from painted items.
• Wash toys and other items frequently.

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REVIEW

• Lead-based paint and lead dust are
• the leading sources of lead poisoning.
• Lead poisoning has no signs.
• Testing is the only way to know if your child
• has lead poisoning.
• Lead poisoning is related to a number of
• serious health problems.
• Lead poisoning is the presence of too much
• lead in the body.
• Shelby County has experienced many children with
  elevated blood levels.
• Every child under the age of six living in a high
  area needs to be tested.
• There are ways to reduce lead poisoning in our
  children in Shelby County.
• There are ways to keep your children safe.

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How Else Can You Keep Your Child SafeFrom Lead
Poisoning?

• Wash hands often.
• Run water before using it.
• Never use hot tap water when cooking.
• Avoid dirt play areas.
• Wash up after playing outside.

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Serve A Variety Of Healthy Foods Every Day.

• Choose Nutrient-Rich Foods.
• Vitamin C
• Calcium
• Iron

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The Memphis/Shelby County Health Childhood Lead
Poisoning Prevention Program

• PROGRAM FOCUS
• Medical Case Management/Tracking of Lead Poisoned
  Children
• Environmental Case Management/Tracking of
  properties with Lead Hazards
• Preventative Exposure Program

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Partnering gets the job done!

• Creation of Lead Safe Housing!
• Screening of children in high risk areas.
• Education/Outreach opportunities.
• Faith based Organizations
• Day Care Centers
• Higher Learning Institutes
• Public Educational System

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Grant PartneringHousing and Health what a
Good Combination!
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• Questions

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References
Shelby County Government. Facts on Childhood Lead
Poisoning. Retrieved July 15, 2009 from
http//www.shelbycountytn.gov/FirstPortal/dotShowD
oc/Government/CountyServices/HealthServices/Enviro
nmentalHealth/facts.htmeff.Agency for Toxic
Substance Abuse and Disease Registry. Lead
Toxicity. Retrieved July 15, 2009 from
http//www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/lead/pbwhere_found2.
html. Illinois Department of Public Health. Lead
Poisoning. Retrieved July 15, 2009 from
http//www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hblead.htm.
Shelby County Government. Lead Poisoning
Statistics from the Memphis and Shelby County
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
Retrieved July 16, 2009 from http//www.shelbycou
ntytn.gov/FirstPortal/dotShowDoc/Government/County
Services/HealthServices/EnvironmentalHealth/stats.
htm. Berg, K.K., Hull, H.F., Zabel, E.W.,
Staley, P.K., and Brown, M.J., March 23, 2006.
Death of Child After Ingestion of a Metallic
Charm, Minnesota. Mortality and Morbidity Weekly
Report, 55(Dispatch)1-2. Retrieved July 28, 2009
from http//www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm55
d323a1.htm. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Lead Prevention Tips. Retrieved July
27, 2009 from http//www.cdc.gov/nceh/Lead/tips.ht
m.