title: Lead poisoning and asthma among low-income and African American children in Saginaw, Michigan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to ascertain whether asthmatic children are more likely to have elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs), BLLs ≥ 10 μg/dL, than non-asthmatic children. Household risk factors associated with both lead and asthma were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a cross-sectional study involving children residing in mainly low-income and minority households in Michigan which were identified by the Statewide Systemic Tracking of Elevated Lead Levels and Remediation database (STELLAR) (n=356 children).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 356 index children, 19% had EBLLs and 15% were doctor-diagnosed asthmatic. After adjusting for confounders known to be related to lead poisoning and/or asthma, association remained between asthmatic children and EBLL children (AOR: 5.17; 95% CI (1.25-21.37)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study show that asthmatic children are over 5 times more likely to have EBLLs than non-asthmatics (AOR: 5.17; 95% CI (1.25-21.37)). Intervention strategies designed to address lead poisoning prevention may be effective in reducing incidence of asthma. Further study is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. pampugh@umich.edu
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pugh Smith
authors.forename: Jerome O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Nriagu
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D007854:Lead