ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
DIRECT FROM CDC ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Educating Communities, Families, and High School Students About Lead Exposure as a Public Health Problem
Tanya Telfair LeBlanc, PhD
Perri Ruckart, DrPH
Shannon Omisore, MA
Children within populations with lower access to economic and social advantages or who live in lower-income households bear a disproportionate risk of exposure because they are more likely to live in housing built before 1978, which could contain leaded paint and plumbing (Woolf & Brown, 2022). Children might also lack access to foods rich in iron and calcium, which could block lead absorption (Hauptman et al., 2022). Addi- tional populations, such as children who are recent immigrants or refugees, might be exposed to risks such as imported goods with high levels of lead. Working With Partners to Raise Awareness About Lead The Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention (CDC), in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, devel- oped two community lead exposure preven- tion education videos suitable for posting online, sharing on social media, and dis- seminating via other opportunities to reach general audiences. These videos provide brief overviews of what lead is, where it is found, and why it is important to protect young children from exposure. One video was created for high school students at the 10th grade level. The language and con- tent are specifically crafted to appeal to the 15–16-year age group. The other video is designed for parents, teachers, and people employed in many occupations that would benefit from this information, including real estate agents, plumbers, construction workers, and others. Closed captions for the hearing impaired and 508 compliant versions for the visually impaired are available for each video. The videos are posted on the CDC website and
Editor’s Note: The National Environmental Health Association strives to provide up-to-date and relevant information on environmental health and to build partnerships in the profession. In pursuit of these goals, we feature this column on environmental health services from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in every issue of the Journal . In these columns, authors from CDC’s Water, Food, and Environmental Health Services Branch, as well as guest authors, will share tools, resources, and guidance for environmental health practitioners. The conclusions in these columns are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the ocial position of CDC. Dr. Tanya Telfair LeBlanc is a senior health scientist/epidemiologist. Dr. Perri Ruckart is a health scientist and team lead. Shannon Omisore serves as a health communication specialist. All work in the Lead Poisoning Prevention and Environmental Health Tracking Branch at CDC.
O ne major public health achievement in the U.S. is lead exposure reduc- tion among children but many re- main at risk. Lead is a naturally occurring metal that has become a widespread environ- mental health hazard due to its broad use in industrial and commercial applications. Ex- posure to lead can seriously harm the health of children. The eects can include damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, and learning and behavior problems. No safe blood lead level has been identified and adverse health eects have been documented for very low-level ex- posures. Children younger than 6 years are especially vulnerable because of their hand- to-mouth behavior and rapidly developing brains and nervous systems (LeBlanc et al., 2022; Wani et al., 2015). Though lead was banned in house paint in 1978 and in gaso- line for on-road vehicles in 1996, additional routes of exposure have been identified.
Increasing lead use in industries and the expansion of global trade have opened addi- tional exposure routes. Lead has been tradi- tionally found in plumbing pipes, in paint in older homes, and in industries such as construction, mining, and manufacturing (Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion, 2023). Toys, jewelry, cosmetics, food, and products imported from other countries might also contain lead, which has attracted additional attention with the expansion of global trade. Parents employed in industries that use lead (such as automotive repair and construction work) or those engaged in cer- tain hobbies (such as hunting, fishing, and some arts and crafts) can inadvertently bring traces of lead into the home or vehicles on shoes or clothing. This situation can create potential risks to young children. Lead expo- sure is still a public health threat with long- term consequences for children, families, and society—but it may be under-recognized.
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Volume 86 • Number 3
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