Interagency Taskforce to Prevent

Childhood Lead Poisoning from Non-

paint Related Sources

Mary Jean Brown, ScD, RNChief,Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention BranchCenters for Disease Control and Prevention

Figure . Blood Lead Levels Associated with Adverse Health Effects

Children Lead Concentration in Blood(g/dL) Adults

150

100

50

40

30

20

10

Death Encephalopathy

EncephalopathyNephropathy

Frank AnemiaColic

Nephropathy

Frank Anemia

Male Reproductive Effects

Hemoglobin Synthesis andFemale Reproductive Effects

Nerve Conduction VelocityHemoglobin Synthesis

Vitamin D Metabolism

Nerve Conduction Velocity

Erythrocyte ProtoporphyrinVitamin D Metabolism(?)

Developmental ToxicityIQ, Hearing, Growth

Transplacental Transfer

Elevated Blood Pressure

Erythrocyte Protoporphyrin (men)Erythrocyte Protoporphyrin (women)

Note: = increased function and = decreased function. Source: ATSDR, 1992

1974 1976

1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998

Year1972

Blo

od

Le

ad L

eve

ls (µ

/dL

)

18

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

0

2000

Impact of Lead Poisoning Prevention Policy on Reducing Children’s Blood Lead Levels

Lead Gasoline

Phase-out (1973)

Lead-based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act (1971)

Residential Lead Paint Ban (1978)

Lead Title X (1992)

Housing units with lead based paint

hazards reduced by 40% since 1990

Lead Contamination Control Act (1988)

Virtual Elimination of Lead in Gasoline

Ban on lead solder in food cans (1995)

2.7 %2.2 %

Lead in Plumbing banned (1986)

2002

1.6 %

The lead (Pb) story Regulatory action has removed Pb from gasoline, tin

cans, paint and reduced it in food, products, drinking water systems, and workplace.

Pb-dust from paint still an issue. Analysis of city level data indicates that ~ 35% of children > 10 ug/dL Pb in blood lived in a home with earlier cases of Pb exposure.

As prevalence declines – the attributable fraction of Pb exposures from other sources increases.

Primary Prevention-Non-Paint Lead Sources

Intervention before the children’s blood lead becomes elevated Identify communities where cultural practices

and traditional medicines put families at risk. Incorporate lead poisoning prevention activities

into health and community services that reach families at high risk for exposure

Control or eliminate current and new non-essential uses of lead particularly in toys, food implements and cosmetics.

Interagency Taskforce to Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning from Non-paint Related Sources

Various foods, consumer products, environmental conditions continue to cause Pb-poisoning.

Regulate Exposures: EPA, OSHA, FDA, and

CPSC. Control, Treat, Remediate, and Enforce: CDC,

Commerce, Customs, HUD, and DHHS.

Interagency Taskforce to Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning from Non-paint Related Sources

Objective: Develop a comprehensive strategy to control

non-paint lead sources through interagency collaboration and cooperation.

Membership: EPA, FDA, CPSC, Commerce, Customs and OSTP

Next Steps: To work at the staff level To develop data collection tools and real time communication

to respond to cases, and To research each agency’s control mechanisms.

Prioritizing Identification and Elimination/Control of Sources

1. Consumption-Look at the overall lead consumption and rank the non-paint sources of lead poisoning that represent the largest percentages of total lead consumed. One problem is that this could end up focused on sources that do not threaten children in their unmodified form and accepted use.

2. Harm Presented-Identify the children harmed by non-paint sources of lead and rank the sources by the severity of their harm and frequency of exposure.

4. Multi-Track-Identify the non-paint sources of lead poisoning that cause harm, and aggressively follow them to recognize trends and provide assistance and information to the federal agency that addresses the particular source.

3. Other considerations-A reasonable alternative exists and using lead in the product is unnecessary

Lead poisoning is a problem we can fix.

For More Information: Dr. Mary Jean Brown Chief, Lead Branch CDC 770-488-7492, mjb5@cdc.gov