Lead, allergen, and pesticide levels in licensed child care centers in the United States.
The First National Environmental Health Survey of Child Care Centers was conducted to provide information about lead, allergen, and pesticide levels in licensed U.S. child care centers. Lead levels were measured in settled dust, paint, and play area soil; indoor allergen levels were measured in settled dust; and pesticide residues were measured on indoor surfaces and in play area soil. Fourteen percent of centers had significant lead hazards, suggesting that an estimated 470,000 children under age six (approximately 10% of all children in licensed centers) attend centers with significant lead hazards. Approximately 5% of centers had levels of allergens associated with asthma and allergic conditions. Three-quarters of centers had pesticides applied (either indoors or outdoors) during the previous year. Although most centers did not appear to present risks from lead and allergens, some centers did have unsafe levels of these contaminants. These conclusions cannot be generalized to unlicensed child care arrangements.
Westat, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. susanviet@westat.com
Susan Marie
SM
Viet
Westat, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
John
J
Rogers
Westat, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
David
D
Marker
Westat, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
Alexa
A
Fraser
Department of Housing and Urban Development, USA.
Warren
W
Friedman
National Center for Healthy Housing, USA.
David
D
Jacobs
Department of Energy, USA.
J
J
Zhou
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USA.
Nicolle
N
Tulve
D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004782:Environmental Health; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
D000485:Allergens; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010575:Pesticides; D007854:Lead