MPH 613: Environment, Society, and Health practice lab -an integrated lead poisoning assignment
Background: Lead is a significant but preventable environmental risk factor. The most effective way to ensure the population, particularly children, do not experience harmful long-term effects of lead exposure is the removal of lead hazards from the environment. The most common source of lead exposure is lead-based paint, used in many homes in the United States built before 1978. Some children from low socioeconomic backgrounds, racial and ethnic minorities, poorly maintained communities, and living in a house with an adult frequently exposed to lead in work are more prone to suffer from neurological deficiencies from lead exposure. The United States Environmental Protection Agency developed policies and regulations to prevent childhood lead exposure. In this integrated lead poisoning prevention assignment, we had a mock community named Happytown, USA. Happytown was a wealthy, diverse community with various potential lead sources. Happytown was a friendly, historic community welcoming to the immigrant population, had good schools and affordable housing, and was filled with civic pride. Happytown resident celebrates different events, supports youth education, supports locally owned business, and maintains their historical tradition by preserving old houses. Unfortunately, several potential lead sources are available, causing severe risks to the Happytown residents.
Key question: What were the possible lead sources within the Happytown community? How do the Happytown community events, cultural beliefs, practices and traditions, food habits, available housing, and community values expose the resident to lead poisoning?
Method: From the understanding we developed during the MPH613 course, we reviewed all the conditions, characteristics, practices, and activities of Happytown residents and found all the possible sources of lead. In addition, we analyzed the potential label of risk, duration of exposure, and vulnerability of the population. After completing the analysis, we suggested an effective communication method to communicate lead exposure information to Happytown residents. We also discussed communication strategies for three potential audiences from Happytown.
Findings: I found six significant sources of lead poisoning in Happytown: lead base paint, leaded soil, leaded drinking water from lead pipes and fixtures, lead-contaminated food, lead in the new resident day products, and lead in annual funfair products. In addition, I gave a detailed description of how the condition, characteristics, practices, and activities of Happytown residents increase the level of risk.
Recommendations: Happytown Lead Poisoning Education and Prevention Program (HLPEPP) is designed to educate the Happytown residents about the health hazards related to lead exposure and develop primary prevention strategies to reduce the risk of lead poisoning. My recommendation is as follows. The deteriorated lead-based paint of low-cost apartment buildings and single-family homes from the 1940s or 1950s is the most common source of lead poisoning. There is a 69% chance of lead-based paint on those buildings. The expensive single-family homes downtown in the 1930s has an 87% chance of the presence of lead-based paint. Lead-safe contractors should renovate those houses or follow lead-safe work practices. Homeowners without formal training could increase the risk of lead poisoning by renovating those homes. Semiannual ‘renovate it yourself’ classes most likely should have included the lead-safe work practice guidelines. Typically, people spend more time in their homes, and many in Happytown live in homes that increase their risk of lead poisoning. The cultural practices followed by the Hispanic community of Happytown, which is consuming ‘sweet chapulines’ and using ‘Tiro’ in the eyes of the children, could increase the risk of lead poisoning. HLPEPP should be designed to recognize, understand, respect, and respond to the cultural beliefs, values, and practices of Happytown communities. The historic homes elicit nostalgia, communal unity, and civic pride, and they promote and defend Happytown’s identity. The hunting club reflects Happytown’s old culture. The design, implementation, and communication of HLPEPP should be able to understand the cultural sensitivity and adapt to the cultural diversity of Happytown. The HLPEPP must be culturally competent to the Hispanic community.
Public health significance: According to CDC, more than 500,000 American children edit between one to five years have an increased lead level in their blood. Lead can cause severe consequences for children’s health, including brain and nervous system damage and intellectual and behavioral disorders. Even blood lead concentrations as low as 3.5 µg/dL may be associated with decreased intelligence in children, behavioral difficulties, and learning problems. CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is working to achieve two main objectives – reducing exposure to lead and blood lead levels in children aged 1 to 5 years.