LEAD TESTING OF CHILDREN AND HOMES - RESULTS OF A NATIONAL TELEPHONE SURVEY

Objectives. This study was designed to estimate the percentage of youn g children in the United States who have been tested for lead and the percentage of dwellings in the United States in which the paint has be en tested for lead. Methods. A national random digit dial telephone su rvey of 5238 households was conducted in 1994. Weighted national estim ates and 95% confidence intervals for outcomes of interest were calcul ated. Results. About 24% of U.S, children ages 0 to 6 years were estim ated to have been tested for lead. Higher rates of testing were report ed for children living in homes constructed prior to 1960, those livin g in homes with low household income, those living in rental units, an d those living in the Northeast. Lead paint testing was performed for only an estimated 9% of U.S. housing units. Older homes were not more likely to have been tested than newer ones. Conclusion. A high proport ion of pre-school children have apparently not been screened for lead exposure, even among subgroups at increased risk Most dwellings of pre -school children have not been tested for lead paint. These data sugge st that most at-risk children are not being reached by current approac hes to lead poisoning prevention.