Lead and Poverty Joe Schirmer Poverty Matters: 2016 Lead and Poverty Joe Schirmer

EFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD LEAD EXPOSURE LESS ABLE TO LEARN MORE LIKELY TO STRUGGLE, TO REQUIRE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND TO FAIL IN SCHOOL MORE ARRESTS AS TEENS &YOUNG ADULTS MORE TEENAGE PREGNANCIES MORE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ILLNESS IN ADULTS

As Blood Lead Levels Rise – Kids lose I.Q. Points Decrease in I.Q. Points Increase in Blood Lead Level (mcg/dL)

Stronger Effect on I.Q. at Lower BLLs of Lead Exposure Children with lifetime average BLL between 5 and 9.9 mcg/dL scored 4.9 points lower on I.Q. scale than children with BLL less than 5 mcg/dL . Jusko TA, et. al. (2008), Environmental Health Perspectives, Blood lead concentrations < 5 mcg/dl and child intelligence at 6 years of age

Wisconsin Weather Wisconsin has more variability in temperature and humidity than most states in the US. Water Expands when it Freezes Repeated cycles: sun damage, wear, rain and snow, freezing, thawing make paint fail

visible

Number of Wisconsin Children with lead in blood above CDC reference levels: 1996-2014

Many children do not get blood lead tests that Medicaid requires

Percent of all WI children lead poisoned by decade of housing construction

26 % WI HOMES OLDER THAN 1950 90 % WI LEAD POISONED KIDS LIVE IN HOMES OLDER THAN 1950

Poverty still drives lead exposure risk for Wisconsin children Percent Higher Income Children (not Medicaid) with blood lead above reference level Percent of Low Income Children (Medicaid) with blood lead above reference level => 5 mcg/dl) 2014: 5.6% 2015: 5.8% 2014: 2.1 % 2015: 2.0%

Racial Disparities: Jobs, Housing “In 2009 Milwaukee area had the largest racial disparity in jobless rates of any metro area in the country.” Mark Levine, at UWM “2011, FOUR COUNTY MILWAUKEE AREA WAS DEEMED THE MOST SEGREGATED METROPLITAN AREA IN US” BARBARA MINER MILW. JOURNAL SENTINEL 1/12/13 “2013 Ranking: Milwaukee Still Country's Most Segregated Metro Area” From Study published in “Business Insider”, quoted By Stephanie Lecci & Michelle Maternowski • Nov 27, 2013 WUWM

Factors that affect families’ access to lead safe housing Income Racial discrimination in Housing Legal status as immigrants Community standards, Enforcement of housing codes, fair housing laws

Comparing interventions after initial venous blood lead level of 10-19 mcg/dl: Type of Intervention Number (Percent) who received service Change in next venous blood lead (micrograms/deciliter) within 3 to 12 months later Mail information 1383 (65%) +1.2 Telephone 262 (12%) -0.7 Home visit 464 (22%) -1.96 Note that 48% of children in this six state study were from Wisconsin. Whitehead N, Leiker R. 2007 “Case Management Protocol and Declining Blood Lead Concentrations Among Children”. Preventing Chronic Disease. Based on data from six states for 1994-95; 48% of children were from Wisconsin.

Lead in Environment Where is It? Action Steps Paint Bare Soil Water Air Repaint, Replace doors, windows, Remove Coatings (expensive, dangerous) Cover with mulch, plantings Replace pipes, Coat pipes and tubs Flush pipes, Filter water Prevent release, Filter air