Pediatrics
Volume 143, Issue 5, 2019

Blood lead levels among resettled refugee children in select US states, 2010–2014 (Article)

Pezzi C.* , Lee D. , Kennedy L. , Aguirre J. , Titus M. , Ford R. , Cochran J. , Smock L. , Mamo B. , Urban K. , Morillo J. , Hughes S. , Payton C. , Scott K. , Montour J. , Matheson J. , Brown M.J. , Mitchell T.
  • a Immigrant, Refugee, Migrant Health Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • b Immigrant, Refugee, Migrant Health Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • c Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, United States
  • d Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL, United States
  • e Marion County Public Health Department, Indianapolis, IN, United States
  • f Kentucky Office for Refugees, Louisville, KY, United States
  • g Division of Global Populations and Infectious Disease Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
  • h Division of Global Populations and Infectious Disease Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
  • i Minnesota Department of Health, St Paul, MN, United States
  • j Minnesota Department of Health, St Paul, MN, United States
  • k North Carolina Division of Public Health, Raleigh, NC, United States
  • l Bureau of Tuberculosis Control, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, United States
  • m Department of Family and Community Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • n Department of Family and Community Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
  • o Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, TX, United States
  • p Refugee Health Program, Washington State Department of Health, Shoreline, WA, United States
  • q Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • r Immigrant, Refugee, Migrant Health Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs; $5 µg/dL) are more prevalent among refugee children resettled in the United States than the general US population and contribute to permanent health and neurodevelopmental problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends screening of refugee children aged 6 months to 16 years on arrival in the United States and retesting those aged 6 months to 6 years between 3- and 6-months postarrival. METHODS: We analyzed EBLL prevalence among refugee children aged 6 months to 16 years who received a domestic refugee medical examination between January 1, 2010 and September 30, 2014. We assessed EBLL prevalence by predeparture examination country and, among children rescreened 3 to 6 months after initial testing, we assessed EBLL changes during follow-up screening. RESULTS: Twelve sites provided data on 27 284 children representing nearly 25% of refugee children resettling during the time period of this analysis. The EBLL prevalence during initial testing was 19.3%. EBLL was associated with younger age, male sex, and overseas examination country. Among 1121 children from 5 sites with available follow-up test results, EBLL prevalence was 22.7%; higher follow-up BLLs were associated with younger age and predeparture examination country. CONCLUSIONS: EBLL decreased over the time period of our analysis in this population of refugee children. Refugee children may be exposed to lead before and after resettlement to the United States. Efforts to identify incoming refugee populations at high risk for EBLL can inform prevention efforts both domestically and overseas. Copyright © 2019 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee public health service mass screening medical examination follow up human Refugees Lead Poisoning priority journal ethnology groups by age United States Humans Adolescent male lead lead blood level preschool child female Infant Child, Preschool environmental exposure prevalence adverse event Article blood sex Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85065509652&doi=10.1542%2fpeds.2018-2591&partnerID=40&md5=f80f6ec094f095f549decdd34e939752
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2018-2591
ISSN: 00314005
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English