title: Elevated blood lead prevalence in Florida two-year-olds.
abstract: The prevalence of blood lead values of 10 mcg/dl or higher was estimated in Florida two-year-olds in a population-based random sample survey. Subjects were chosen at random from birth certificates of children born in Florida in mid-1991. Parents were interviewed and children's blood specimens obtained in the summer of 1993. Results are based on 387 subjects. Overall prevalence of elevated blood lead was 3.2% (95% confidence limits 2.2, 4.0), with nine children in the range of 10 to 14 mcg/dl and four of 15 or over. In certain subgroups, prevalence was higher: nonwhite 9.4% (2.9, 15.9); mother not married 8.3% (3.1, 13.5); mother on Medicaid 6.7% (2.5, 10.8); housing built in 1978 or before 7.1% (2.3, 11.8); yard dirt or dirt plus grass 10.8% (4.6, 16.9). In Florida, prevalence is much lower than in the nation as a whole. A screening strategy that concentrates on screening Medicaid-eligible children and those living in homes built before 1978 would appear to be quite efficient and may uncover a prevalence of 7.0% or more.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Epidemiology Program, State Health Office, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Tallahassee, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quimbo
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Watkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D017533:Marital Status; D008403:Mass Screening; D008423:Maternal Age; D008484:Medicaid; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012987:Soil; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D007854:Lead