Elevated Blood Lead Levels in Refugee Children
Elevated Blood Lead Levels in Refugee Children
Government groups are now confronting the problem of refugee lead hazards on both domestic and international fronts. The CDC's lead screening recommendations for refugees are part of that strategy, Brown says. She cites evidence showing that implementation of the recommendations was associated with a reduction in the time it took for individuals' BLLs to drop below 10 μg/dL. "Early identification and appropriate followup make BLLs come down faster," she explains. U.S. agencies, including the CDC and the EPA, are also working with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme on its Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead in Paints program, she says. That program's broad objective is to phase out the manufacture and sale of lead-based paint worldwide.
According to Cochran, Massachusetts resettlement workers coordinate with bilingual community health workers who emphasize key talking points related to healthy homes. "We talk about bringing food preparation up off the floor and why it's important to use a table for food, and to watch where kids play," she says. "But lead risks can be difficult to grasp for refugees, who are often coming from very dangerous situations to the safety of the United States. The notion that here your house or a traditional medication could poison you makes little sense." Many refugees arrive in the United States believing that everything in this country is great, and they will be safe, she adds, "so this becomes part of the larger conversation that goes with taking care of yourself here."
(Enlarge Image)
A Pakistani baby boy, his eyes lined with kohl. Kohl and similar products are believed to help children's eyes develop as well as protect them against curses, but they can also expose wearers to lead. Educating refugees about the health risks involved requires diplomacy and sensitivity.
© 2012 Ameer Hamza/Getty Images
(Enlarge Image)
Traditional clay dishes like this Mexican pot often use lead glaze, which gives pottery a smooth finish and makes colors pop. It can also leach lead into foods.
© Brooke Slezak/Getty Images
(Enlarge Image)
A Calcutta child working in a battery recycling shop. Shops like this are common in some developing countries—and a common source of lead exposure prior to emigration.
© Philippe Lissac/Godong/Corbis
(Enlarge Image)
Somali Bantu children in shirts provided by the U.S. Refugee Program, waiting for a bus en route to new homes in the United States. Many refugees arrive in the United States overwhelmed and concerned about day-to-day survival. Lead toxicity—especially if its effects aren't outwardly apparent—can rank low on their list of concerns.
Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images
Next Steps
Government groups are now confronting the problem of refugee lead hazards on both domestic and international fronts. The CDC's lead screening recommendations for refugees are part of that strategy, Brown says. She cites evidence showing that implementation of the recommendations was associated with a reduction in the time it took for individuals' BLLs to drop below 10 μg/dL. "Early identification and appropriate followup make BLLs come down faster," she explains. U.S. agencies, including the CDC and the EPA, are also working with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme on its Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead in Paints program, she says. That program's broad objective is to phase out the manufacture and sale of lead-based paint worldwide.
According to Cochran, Massachusetts resettlement workers coordinate with bilingual community health workers who emphasize key talking points related to healthy homes. "We talk about bringing food preparation up off the floor and why it's important to use a table for food, and to watch where kids play," she says. "But lead risks can be difficult to grasp for refugees, who are often coming from very dangerous situations to the safety of the United States. The notion that here your house or a traditional medication could poison you makes little sense." Many refugees arrive in the United States believing that everything in this country is great, and they will be safe, she adds, "so this becomes part of the larger conversation that goes with taking care of yourself here."
(Enlarge Image)
A Pakistani baby boy, his eyes lined with kohl. Kohl and similar products are believed to help children's eyes develop as well as protect them against curses, but they can also expose wearers to lead. Educating refugees about the health risks involved requires diplomacy and sensitivity.
© 2012 Ameer Hamza/Getty Images
(Enlarge Image)
Traditional clay dishes like this Mexican pot often use lead glaze, which gives pottery a smooth finish and makes colors pop. It can also leach lead into foods.
© Brooke Slezak/Getty Images
(Enlarge Image)
A Calcutta child working in a battery recycling shop. Shops like this are common in some developing countries—and a common source of lead exposure prior to emigration.
© Philippe Lissac/Godong/Corbis
(Enlarge Image)
Somali Bantu children in shirts provided by the U.S. Refugee Program, waiting for a bus en route to new homes in the United States. Many refugees arrive in the United States overwhelmed and concerned about day-to-day survival. Lead toxicity—especially if its effects aren't outwardly apparent—can rank low on their list of concerns.
Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images
