title: Primary prevention of lead poisoning: protecting children from unsafe housing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the effects of changes in Rhode Island's Lead Hazard Mitigation Law in 2005 on children's blood lead levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used 2005 to 2009 data from Rhode Island's Lead Elimination Surveillance System; city tax assessor records in Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket, Rhode Island; and records of conformance to the state's lead hazard mitigation law, to assess the extent to which legislation changes resulted in minimizing children's exposure to lead.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 5-year study, the proportion of properties that complied with the new law increased for properties that housed young children. However, the majority of rental properties did not comply with the law. Children's lead levels declined by approximately 1 microgram per deciliter on average in properties that did comply, demonstrating that the law could have a protective effect for children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Legislation changes increased the proportion of properties that were certified as nonhazardous, leading to decreased blood lead levels for children living in these properties. However, legislation cannot be a highly effective primary prevention strategy if it does not cover all properties where children live and is not strictly enforced.
authors.affiliation: Michelle L. Rogers is with the Center for Population Health and Clinical Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI. At the time of the study, James A. Lucht was with The Providence Plan, Providence, RI. Alyssa J. Sylvaria is with The Providence Plan. Jessica Cigna is with HousingWorks RI, Providence. Robert Vanderslice is with the Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence. Patrick M. Vivier is with the Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice and Department of Pediatrics, Brown University.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lucht
authors.forename: Alyssa J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sylvaria
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cigna
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanderslice
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vivier
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006798:Housing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007854:Lead