Protecting children from toxic exposure: three strategies.
To a toxicologist, "poisonings" are cases in which the child has a defined pattern of symptoms, corresponding to toxic effects at a mid to high level of exposure. "Toxicity" refers to a broader spectrum of effects. At lower levels of toxicity a child may have no specific, individual symptoms but may be affected subclinically. There are three basic strategies to protect children: individual intervention, the preventive medicine strategy, and the public health strategy. This article uses lead exposure as a model for discussing these differences in terminology and the three different protective strategies.
Guidotti
Tee L
TL
Center for Risk Science and Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. eohtlg@gwumc.edu
Ragain
Lisa
L
D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004782:Environmental Health; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening; D008669:Metallurgy; D010150:Paint / Q000506:poisoning; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D011315:Preventive Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012660:Semantics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000506:poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control
D015386:Hazardous Substances; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D007854:Lead