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The importance of lead screening and lead safety

October 2, 2013

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 500,000 U.S. children ages 1 to 5 have lead levels greater than 5 micrograms per deciliter (?g/dL) of blood.1 Problems that can be attributed to even a small amount of lead in the blood in children include permanent damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems, lower IQ, hearing problems, slowed growth, and anemia.2 To help raise awareness of the importance of lead screenings, IBC is educating the parents and guardians of children ages 2 and older for whom there is no record of a lead screening. Parents will receive information in the mail regarding the importance of lead screening and lead safety, and they will be encouraged to discuss screening and education with their child's health care provider.

Lead screening recommendations

The CDC has updated its recommendations on children's blood lead levels and recommends that health care providers try to prevent the occurrence of blood lead levels of 5 ?g/dL and above instead of 10 ?g/dL and above in children by:3 screening children younger than age 6, preferably by ages 1 and 2, if they have not yet been tested; screening children and their family members who have been exposed to high levels of lead; screening children who should be tested under their state and local health screening plan. The new blood lead level value means that more children will likely be identified as having lead exposure — allowing parents, doctors, public health officials, and communities to take action earlier to reduce the child's future exposure to lead. The new recommendation does not change the guidance that chelation therapy be considered when a child has a blood lead level greater than or equal to 45 ?g/dL.

What your practice can do

Physicians can try to prevent lead poisoning in children by doing the following: Discuss recommendations for lead screening, safety, and prevention with the parents/guardians of your pediatric patients. Screen children starting at age 12 months and again at 24 months. Talk about additional follow-up screening with parents and guardians.

Resources

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 20-26, 2013. The following resources may assist you and your staff in effectively educating parents and guardians regarding the importance of lead screening: National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Campaign Toolkit. This toolkit was developed by the CDC, along with the EPA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to encourage information-sharing, collaboration, and promotion of lead poisoning prevention activities. To download the toolkit, please visit www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/nlppw.htm. Philadelphia Department of Public Health. 215-685-2788 (Philadelphia residents) National Lead Information Center. 1-800-424-LEAD (non-Philadelphia residents) Additional resources on patient management can be found on our Resources for Patient Management web page.

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood Lead Poisoning. www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead.
2 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Basic Information, Learn about lead. www2.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-l ead.
3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/nce h/lead/ACCLPP/blood_lead_levels.htm.


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