 Children 6 years and younger are most at risk because their bodies are still developing  Children absorb more lead than adults  Young children have more hand-to-mouth activity than older children

 Newly arrived refugee children are twice as likely as U.S. children to have elevated BLLs  Some sub-populations of refugee children are times more likely to have elevated BLLs  Data suggest that refugee children are also at risk for elevated BLLs in the U.S. Slide taken from: CDC Recommendations for Lead Poisoning Prevention in Newly Arrived Refugee Children Medical Provider Module

 Living in older homes  Compromised nutritional status  Lack of awareness about the dangers of lead  Cultural practices and traditional medicines

 Behavior & Learning Problems  Low Intelligence  Hearing Loss  Reduced Growth  Coma  Death

Wash hands Wash pacifiers and toys Wet-mop floors Wet-wipe surfaces

Remove dirty clothes after work

Do Not Drink Run Cold Water Drink or Cook Hot Tap Water for 1 Minute with Cold Water

Initial blood lead test  Within 90 days of arrival into the United States Repeat blood lead test  3 to 6 months after placed in permanent residence

If result of capillary screening test (ug/dL) is: Perform diagnostic test on venous blood within: months month-1 week hours hours >70Immediately as an emergency lab test

 Free Blood Lead Test:  Refugee Nutrition - Heartland Alliance  Address: 1331 West Albion Avenue Chicago IL  Phone:  Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

 Lead Safe Illinois: Campaign for Lead Safety  CDC’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for Refugees  Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Lead Safety Info  Office of Refugee Resettlement

Any Questions?

February 2009 PowerPoint by Ann Doan, Nicole Gliner, and Zhi Ping Kuang University of Illinois at Chicago Nursing Students