THE IMPACT OF LOW TECHNOLOGY LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION ACTIVITIES AMONG CHILDREN WITH MILDLY ELEVATED BLOOD LEAD LEVELS

This prospective environmental intervention study was conducted to det ermine the impact of low-technology lead hazard reduction activities a mong children with mildly elevated blood lead levels. Children whose h omes had severe lead hazards were automatically assigned to the interv ention group. Children whose homes had lesser hazards were randomly as signed to the intervention group or comparison group. The one-time int ervention focused mainly on cleaning and repainting window areas and e ducating caregivers to maintain effective housekeeping techniques. Cha nges in blood lead and dust lead loading levels were observed followin g the interventions. Analysis of covariance was used to adjust compari sons of postintervention levels for preintervention levels and other v ariables. The lead hazard reduction activities were associated with a modest decline in blood lead levels among children with severe hazards . The magnitude of the decline depended on the confounder that was con trolled; the majority ranged from - 1.1 to - 1.6 mu g/dL. A moderate r eduction in window well dust lead loading levels was also observed. Wh ile low-technology lead hazard reduction measures appeared to be an ef fective secondary prevention strategy among children with severe house hold lead hazards, larger studies are needed to confirm these results, (C) 1998 Academic Press.