Childhood Lead Poisoning in New York State Symposium To Examine Lead Poisoning in NYS March 13, 2006 Rachel de Long, M.D., M.P.H. Director, Bureau of Child and Adolescent Health NYS Department of Health

Childhood Lead Poisoning: A preventable public health problem  Lead poisoning defined as a blood lead level > 10 mcg/dL Recent research suggests may be no ‘safe’ level of lead Level of intervention varies by blood lead level, consistent with evidence of effectiveness  Tremendous progress in lowering prevalence and severity of childhood lead poisoning over past several decades

Childhood Lead Poisoning: A preventable public health problem  Elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) associated with range of negative outcomes Cognitive deficits Behavioral problems Anemia Diminished bone growth Dental caries Hypertension Osteoporosis Poor pregnancy outcomes

Factors associated with lead poisoning  Young Children are at highest risk for lead poisoning BLLs typically rise between 6-12 months and peak between months of age Consistent with normal child development:  Increased mobility  Active exploration of environment  Hand-to-mouth behavior  Efficient GI absorption of lead vs. adults

Factors associated with lead poisoning  Other Individual Factors Developmental factors  Hand-to-mouth behaviors  Pica Nutritional status  Iron and calcium deficiency Hobbies/occupation Use of contaminated consumer products Practice of protective behaviors

Factors associated with lead poisoning  Community Level Factors Age and condition of housing  Deteriorating paint  Disturbance of intact paint (renovation/remodeling) Poverty/socioeconomic status Racial minority populations Immigrant/refugee populations Community-specific exposures (e.g. industry)

Sources of lead exposure  Deteriorating paint (chips or dust)  Soil (deposits from leaded gasoline, paint, industry)  Water (lead plumbing)  Traditional remedies, cosmetics, consumer products  Occupational and hobby exposures  Industry

Factors associated with lead poisoning: NYS Data  New York State has the highest percent of pre-1950 housing in nation 55% of housing in New York City † 40% of housing in Upstate New York †  Children living in poverty 26% of children in NYC live below the federal poverty level (FPL) † 14% of Upstate children live below FPL † 36% of Upstate children are eligible for Medicaid in  WIC Eligibility 40% of all NYS children were enrolled in WIC in † 2000 Census

Factors associated with lead poisoning: NYS Data  Non-white minority children 77% of children in NYC were identified as non-white by their parents or guardians. † 23% of Upstate children were identified as non-white by their parents or guardians. †  Foreign-born children represent 23% of all NYS children. Over 10,000 refugees entered NYS in 1999 † 2000 Census

NYS: Lead Screening of Children  NYS Lead Screening Requirements Universal blood lead testing at or around age 1 year and 2 years Annual risk assessment, with blood lead testing as indicated, up to age six years Assessment of lead screening status on enrollment in child care/preschool, with referral and education as needed  Screening is essential for: Identification and follow-up of individual children with lead poisoning State and local level surveillance and program planning

NYS Data: Lead Screening Rates  Initial Test Data 67.6% children outside of NYC received at least one blood lead test by 24 months of age (2001 birth cohort)  Increase of 5% since % of children in NYC received at least one lead test by age one year  84% of children in NYC had at least one lead test before their third birthday (2000 birth cohort) 74% of children enrolled in Medicaid Managed Care tested at least once by age 24 months  Nationally, only 43% of Medicaid-eligible children ever receive a blood lead screening test

NYS Data: Lead Screening Rates  Second Test Data Of those upstate children with non-elevated initial screening test, 32% received a second lead test ( data) 30% NYC children received blood lead test at both 12 and 24 months of age (2000 birth cohort)

NYS Data: Prevalence of Lead Poisoning  Prevalence- total number of children with lead poisoning during a specific time  Prevalent cases, mcg/dL in Upstate NY 4,140 (2.3 cases/100 tests) This is a 28% decrease since 2000  Prevalent cases, 20+ mcg/dL in Upstate NY 413 (0.2 cases/100 tests) This is a 35% decrease since 2000

NYS Data: Incidence of lead poisoning  Incidence: newly identified children with elevated blood lead levels 2003 dataNYCUpstate NY Incident cases ,4132,383 Incident rate /100 tests*1.3/100 tests Trends 82% decrease since % decrease from 2000 Incident cases > Incident rate >20 No rate available0.2/100 tests 23% decrease since 2000 * NYC rates are based on tests of children 0-18 years of age

Lead Poisoning is not evenly distributed across the state  36 high-incidence upstate zip codes account for over 40% of the new cases of EBLL outside NYC ( data) Zip codes with >5% incidence rate EBLLs 2% of all upstate zip codes Urban neighborhoods characterized by higher rates of poverty and pre-1950 housing  18 high-incidence neighborhoods account for more than 73% of new cases of EIBLL (>15mcg/dL) in NYC Brooklyn has 10 of 11 neighborhoods with EIBLL rates higher than the citywide incidence rate.

Success in targeting screening promotion efforts  High-incidence communities have higher lead screening rates Previous study showed that 80% of children in high-incidence upstate zip codes screened vs. 61% of all children screened over same time period ( birth cohorts) Seven of NYC highest-incidence neighborhoods also have higher than NYC- average screening rate Haley VB., & Talbot TO. (2004) Geographic analysis of blood lead levels in New York State children born Environmental Health Perspectives, 112(15):

Lead Poisoning distribution in NYS, by county,

High Incidence rate Zip Codes, 2001

High-incidence rates in NYC, 2003

Elimination of Childhood Lead Poisoning by 2010  Healthy People Goal: Elimination of Childhood Lead Poisoning by 2010  NYS Plan for the Elimination of Childhood Lead Poisoning by 2010 Released June 2004 Complements NYC Elimination Plan  Plan provides a framework for lead elimination work of NYSDOH and partners Living document informed by ongoing input from multiple stakeholders and success of elimination activities

Public Health Approach to Elimination of Childhood Lead Poisoning  Surveillance  Screening  Follow-up/management of EBLLs: education, nursing, environmental  Primary Prevention  Targeting High-Risk Populations  Strategic Partnerships

Questions and Discussion