Background: MPH 613: Environment, Society, and Health included a project focusing on a realistic description of an imaginary community called Happy Town, USA. The assignment outlined the risks imposed on the community by various routes of lead exposure. Happy Town has very diverse culture and encompasses many areas of potential lead risk. Some areas of concern include children’s toys, cultural customs/immigration, food sources, and their living situations (lead paint, lead pipes, own renovations). Due to the diversity within the community, it is important to find a way to communicate the risks of lead poisoning to the residents while keeping their cultural beliefs in mind. The purpose of the assignment was to exercise and apply knowledge of lead poisoning, risk communication, and cultural beliefs/values.
Key study question(s): Students were asked to evaluate the description of Happy Town and identify the areas of potential lead exposure. We were to take into consideration the cultural beliefs, community events, and living situations. Once the risks were identified, we were expected to produce risk communication and prevention strategies, being inclusive of the diverse population of Happy Town residents.
Method: I utilized relevant coursework over the span of the semester involving lead poisoning and prevention, risk communication strategies, and various cultural practices. Once I reviewed our class modules, I was able to identify various areas of potential lead exposure within Happy Town. Once understanding who is most effected by lead in the community, I began to form a communication strategy. There are many immigrants in Happy Town as well as children that could be effected, therefore the bulk of the communication was set around parents and utilizing strategies to encompass those of different cultures and languages.
Findings: Throughout the course of completing this assignment, I identified many areas of concern. Potential lead exposure was identified in children’s toys (beaded necklaces, rubber critters, Tiro eye paint), cultural customs (Egyptian pottery, Greek coins, Roman pipes/dishes/cosmetics, etc), food options being imported or killed by lead containing bullets (Chapulines, small game animals, venison), and residencies (lead paint, lead pipes, own renovation).
Recommendations: I recommended educating parents on the dangers of lead exposure for children. These education points included preventative measures such as screening programs, keeping the home dust free, washing bottles, pacifiers, and toys, removing shoes before entering the house, etc. I also recommended that home-owners be educated on the dangers of renovating homes that have lead paint. Lead-Safe Contractors should be utilized to ensure all remnants of lead paint is removed from the home. The dust produced by lead containing paint will effect children in the home the most. Additionally, local officials need to become educated on the cultural backgrounds of their residents in order to effectively teach safety concerns and build trust. Some education and communication strategies employed may include surveys, focus groups, knowledge assessments, and providing resources such as home testing and blood screening. These communication choices need to be inclusive of the potential language barriers or literacy levels of residents. The use of graphics, plain language, and providing meaning will be useful in educating the population.
Public health significance: Exposure to lead is dangerous for all ages but especially for children. No safe level of lead has been determined for children and has adverse effects for their health. As their nervous system is still developing, their bodies absorb lead, producing developmental delays, behavioral problems, and neurological damage to the child. Depending on the severity of the exposure, the effects of lead exposure can be permanent. Lead poisoning and exposure is an ongoing Public Health threat as an estimated 500,000 children in the United States are exposed to unsafe levels of lead. Protecting children’s health through prevention of lead exposure is vital to the future of our communities and growth of children (CDC, 2019).
References: Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/overview.html. Accessed March 27, 2023.
MPH-613-Practice-Lab