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Protecting Refugee Children from Lead Poisoning

Learn about the high risk of lead poisoning in children, especially refugee children, and how to prevent elevated blood lead levels. Discover prevention techniques, medical assurances, and resources available for health promoters and refugees.

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Protecting Refugee Children from Lead Poisoning

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  1. Children are at High Risk • 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

  2. Elevated Blood Lead Levels (BLLs)in Refugee Children • Newly arrived refugee children are twice as likely as U.S. children to have elevated BLLs • Some sub-populations of refugee children are 12-14.5 times more likelyto 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

  3. Risk Factors for Elevated BLLs Among Refugees • Living in older homes • Compromised nutritional status • Lack of awareness about the dangers of lead • Cultural practices and traditional medicines

  4. Lead Poisoning Can Cause • Behavior & Learning Problems • Low Intelligence • Hearing Loss • Reduced Growth • Coma • Death

  5. What Can I Do? Wash hands Wash pacifiers and toys Wet-mop floors Wet-wipe surfaces

  6. Take Off Dirty Clothes Remove dirty clothes after work

  7. Prevention Techniques Do Not Drink Run Cold Water Drink or Cook Hot Tap Water for 1 Minute with Cold Water

  8. Proper Nutrition

  9. Medical Assurance: Screening 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

  10. Blood Lead Level (BLL) Screening

  11. Follow-Up Care

  12. Resources for Refugees • Free Blood Lead Test: 1-800-328-3838 • Refugee Nutrition - Heartland Alliance • Address: 1331 West Albion Avenue Chicago IL 60626 • Phone: 773.751.4091 • Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

  13. Resources for Health Promoters • Lead Safe Illinois: Campaign for Lead Safety http://leadsafeillinois.org/ • CDC’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for Refugees http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/Lead/Publications/RefugeeToolKit/Refugee_Tool_Kit.htm • Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Lead Safety Info http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/lead/ • Office of Refugee Resettlement http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/

  14. Thank you Any Questions?

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

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