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

2. 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

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

4. 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

16. 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

19. visible

20. Number of Wisconsin Children with lead in blood
above CDC reference levels:

24. Many children do not get blood lead tests that Medicaid requires

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

30. 26 % WI HOMES OLDER THAN 1950
90 % WI LEAD POISONED KIDS
LIVE IN HOMES OLDER THAN 1950

33. 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%

36. 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

37. 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

39. 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 “Case Management Protocol and Declining Blood Lead Concentrations Among Children”. Preventing Chronic Disease.
Based on data from six states for ; 48% of children were from Wisconsin.

42. 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