Children’s 2023 Lead Exposure in SENDSS-Assessed and Unassessed Homes in North Central Health District, Georgia.
Abstract
Background: Children are especially vulnerable to the health effects of lead poisoning. In 2022, Georgia revised the blood lead reference value to 3.5 µg/dL, down from 5 µg/dL. Previously, children received home assessments from the State Entry National Database Surveillance System (SENDSS) only when their blood lead levels reached 10 µg/dL or higher. The new reference value sets a revised standard and introduces an action level, ensuring that children with elevated lead levels get necessary home assessments, an intervention aimed at reducing children’s level of exposure.
Methods: Blood lead data for children aged six and under was obtained from the SENDSS for the 13 counties under the NCHD. Other variables analyzed included demographics, assessment status, elevated blood lead levels, and follow-up status. Data analyses using SPSS compared average blood lead levels in children from assessed and unassessed homes. The Chi-Square Test of Independence was used to analyze the relationship between categorical variables and lead levels in both home types.
Results: Preliminary findings show that 30 children with elevated blood lead levels were assigned to Districts 5-2. Nineteen homes were assessed for lead exposure, while eleven were not. An independent samples t-test revealed that the mean lead level for assessed homes was 1.4737 ± 0.51299 µg/dL, compared to 1.1818 ± 0.40452 µg/dL for unassessed homes, with no significant difference (p = 0.097). However, there is a statistically significant association between the variables of assessment status and follow-up (Χ ² (1) ≥ 4.966, p = 0.0206, α = 0.05).
Conclusion: Homes built before 1978 that were assessed for environmental risk factors, along with unassessed homes, both show a higher prevalence of elevated blood lead levels in children. This suggests that there may be underreporting or a lack of awareness regarding lead exposure in assessed homes.
Keywords
Elevated lead levels, children, environmental factors, public health
Conflict of Interest Form
I understand that if my abstract is selected and I agree to present that I must register for the conference and pay the registration fee to attend at least the day of the conference that I present. This includes all Learning Methods except invited Key Note Speakers.
Children’s 2023 Lead Exposure in SENDSS-Assessed and Unassessed Homes in North Central Health District, Georgia.
Background: Children are especially vulnerable to the health effects of lead poisoning. In 2022, Georgia revised the blood lead reference value to 3.5 µg/dL, down from 5 µg/dL. Previously, children received home assessments from the State Entry National Database Surveillance System (SENDSS) only when their blood lead levels reached 10 µg/dL or higher. The new reference value sets a revised standard and introduces an action level, ensuring that children with elevated lead levels get necessary home assessments, an intervention aimed at reducing children’s level of exposure.
Methods: Blood lead data for children aged six and under was obtained from the SENDSS for the 13 counties under the NCHD. Other variables analyzed included demographics, assessment status, elevated blood lead levels, and follow-up status. Data analyses using SPSS compared average blood lead levels in children from assessed and unassessed homes. The Chi-Square Test of Independence was used to analyze the relationship between categorical variables and lead levels in both home types.
Results: Preliminary findings show that 30 children with elevated blood lead levels were assigned to Districts 5-2. Nineteen homes were assessed for lead exposure, while eleven were not. An independent samples t-test revealed that the mean lead level for assessed homes was 1.4737 ± 0.51299 µg/dL, compared to 1.1818 ± 0.40452 µg/dL for unassessed homes, with no significant difference (p = 0.097). However, there is a statistically significant association between the variables of assessment status and follow-up (Χ ² (1) ≥ 4.966, p = 0.0206, α = 0.05).
Conclusion: Homes built before 1978 that were assessed for environmental risk factors, along with unassessed homes, both show a higher prevalence of elevated blood lead levels in children. This suggests that there may be underreporting or a lack of awareness regarding lead exposure in assessed homes.
