Elevated environmental lead levels in a day care setting.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the risk of lead poisoning among children enrolled in day care centers with elevated environmental lead burdens.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Six day care centers on properties owned by a major state-supported university.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-five of 234 eligible children (mean age, 4.8 years) enrolled in these centers were screened by questionnaire for risk factors of lead exposures. Blood samples for lead levels were also obtained. Observations of day care activities relative to lead exposure risks were recorded. Analyses of lead levels in paint, dust, and/or soil samples at the six centers were obtained.


METHODS
Prevalence of elevated blood lead levels and associated behavioral risk factors for lead exposure in children attending day care centers.


RESULTS
Elevated levels of lead in paint (2.4% to 40% lead) were present in all day care facilities. Three day care centers had elevated lead levels in windowsill dust (62,000 to 180,000 micrograms [corrected] of lead per square meter) or soil (530 to 1100 mg of lead per kilogram): Questionnaires documented low risk for lead exposure to children in the home environments. Direct observations in the day care setting revealed optimal supervision and hygiene of the children. Blood lead levels were less than 0.5 mumol/L (10 micrograms/dL) in all but one of the 155 children screened.


CONCLUSIONS
Children attending day care centers with high environmental lead burdens need further documentation of blood lead levels, at-risk behaviors, and lead exposure risks in the home environments as an adjunct to the instigation of lead abatement procedures at the day care centers.
Weismann
D N
DN
Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
Dusdieker
L B
LB
Cherryholmes
K L
KL
Hausler
W J
WJ
Dungy
C I
CI
D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004782:Environmental Health; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010150:Paint; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015386:Hazardous Substances; D007854:Lead