Effects of pediatric blood lead surveillance on Navy population health (1995-2001).
Navy medicine instituted a pediatric lead surveillance program in 1995 because of a public health concern over pediatric blood lead levels. This program included local sampling of pediatric populations and a central database at the Navy Environmental Health Center. That database contains 38,502 samples from 1995 through 2001 with 1.6% above 10 microg/dL. The number of samples submitted and percentage with elevated lead levels has steadily decreased during the 6-year reporting period. Rates above 10 microg/dL for children considered at high risk were similar for those residing on (2.4%) and off base (2.5%). Rates above 10 microg/dL for children considered at low risk, living off base, were 1.3%, whereas those living on base were 0.4% (relative risk = 3.44, p = 0.00, 95% confidence interval = 2.34-5.20). Several locations were identified as having higher risk for elevated blood levels that warrant continued surveillance.
Bohnker
Bruce K
BK
Navy Environmental Health Center, 620 John Paul Jones Circle, Suite 1100, Portsmouth, VA 23708, USA.
Schwartz
Erica
E
McGinnis
James
J
Sack
David
D
Craft
Nancy
N
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008889:Military Personnel; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D007854:Lead