*An estimated 76% of Iowa children under six years old had lead detected in
their blood, according to a newly released study
<https://link.axios.com/click/25323238.11879/aHR0cHM6Ly9qYW1hbmV0d29yay5jb20vam91cm5hbHMvamFtYXBlZGlhdHJpY3MvYXJ0aWNsZS1hYnN0cmFjdC8yNzg0MjYwP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfZGVzbW9pbmVzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/60672ee49426d54b196daa74Ba7b68327>
conducted
between 2018 and 2020. - It's among the highest proportion in the nation,
behind Nebraska (83%), Missouri (82%) and Michigan (78%). The national rate
was about 51%.Why it matters: There's no blood lead level
<https://link.axios.com/click/25323238.11879/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2RjLmdvdi9uY2VoL2xlYWQvcHJldmVudGlvbi9ibG9vZC1sZWFkLWxldmVscy5odG0_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9kZXNtb2luZXMmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/60672ee49426d54b196daa74B478f0da8>
that
has been identified as safe in children, according to the CDC. Even
low-level exposures can negatively affect IQ, behavior and academic
achievement. - Lead poisoning is considered the most
preventable environmental disease of young children, according to the Iowa
Department of Public Health
<https://link.axios.com/click/25323238.11879/aHR0cHM6Ly9pZHBoLmlvd2EuZ292L1BvcnRhbHMvMS91c2VyZmlsZXMvMTA2L01hbmRhdG9yeSUyMEJsb29kJTIwTGVhZCUyMFRlc3RpbmclMjBhbmQlMjBIZWFsdGglMjBFcXVpdHlfMjAyMS5wZGY_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9kZXNtb2luZXMmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/60672ee49426d54b196daa74Bed15c5ac>
(IDPH).Driving
the news: The study, published last month by JAMA Pediatrics, is believed
to be the first national analysis into the association of lead exposure
with individual- and community-level factors, Axios' Marisa Fernandez
<https://link.axios.com/click/25323238.11879/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2hhbGYtdXMtY2hpbGRyZW4taGF2ZS1iZWVuLWV4cG9zZWQtdG8tbGVhZC1kODk2Mjc3MS1lMjg5LTQwZTQtYTZkNS04ZTYwZTRlMDA4ZjQuaHRtbD91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvY2FsX2Rlc21vaW5lcyZzdHJlYW09dG9w/60672ee49426d54b196daa74B67bf63eb>
writes.
- Researchers analyzed blood lead tests that Quest Diagnostics administered
to 1.14 million U.S. children between October 2018 and February 2020.By the
numbers: The study shows 3.6% of Iowa children had blood lead levels of
five micrograms per deciliter or greater, a standard
<https://link.axios.com/click/25323238.11879/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2RjLmdvdi9uY2VoL2xlYWQvZGF0YS9ibG9vZC1sZWFkLXJlZmVyZW5jZS12YWx1ZS5odG0_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9kZXNtb2luZXMmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/60672ee49426d54b196daa74B0af5b5fa>
the
CDC uses to help identify elevated cases. - According to the IDPH, nearly
2,240 children under age six had elevated lead levels in 2019.Between the
lines: Children from predominantly Black or Hispanic ZIP codes were
disproportionately affected, compared to those in predominantly white ZIP
codes. - Kids from areas with pre-1950s housing had significantly higher
levels.What they're doing: The CDC recommends
<https://link.axios.com/click/25323238.11879/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2RjLmdvdi9uY2VoL2xlYWQvZGF0YS9uYXRpb25hbC5odG0_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9kZXNtb2luZXMmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/60672ee49426d54b196daa74B23b95ec2>
states
adopt statewide screening plans. - Iowa has been requiring blood lead
testing
<https://link.axios.com/click/25323238.11879/aHR0cHM6Ly9pZHBoLmlvd2EuZ292L0Vudmlyb25tZW50YWwtSGVhbHRoLVNlcnZpY2VzL0NoaWxkaG9vZC1MZWFkLVBvaXNvbmluZy1QcmV2ZW50aW9uL1Byb3ZpZGVycy1MYWJzLWFuZC1TY2hvb2xzL1NjaG9vbC1MZWFkLVNjcmVlbmluZz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249bmV3c2xldHRlcl9heGlvc2xvY2FsX2Rlc21vaW5lcyZzdHJlYW09dG9w/60672ee49426d54b196daa74B22f0cf27>
for
kindergarteners since 2008. It's considered one of the most comprehensive
state requirements in the nation, according to the Network for Public
Health Law
<https://link.axios.com/click/25323238.11879/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmV0d29ya2ZvcnBobC5vcmcvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMTkvMTIvNTAtU3RhdGUtU3VydmV5LUxlYWQtU2NyZWVuaW5nLWZvci1DaGlsZHJlbi1Ob3QtRW5yb2xsZWQtaW4tTWVkaWNhaWQucGRmP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfZGVzbW9pbmVzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/60672ee49426d54b196daa74Bae1fec75>.But
despite Iowa law, more than 23% of kids entering kindergarten last year had
no record of a blood lead test, according to the IDPH
<https://link.axios.com/click/25323238.11879/aHR0cHM6Ly9pZHBoLmlvd2EuZ292L1BvcnRhbHMvMS91c2VyZmlsZXMvMTA2L1N1bW1hcnlvZnNjaG9vbGxlYWRkYXRhbWF0Y2gyMDE2LTIwMjAucGRmP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfZGVzbW9pbmVzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/60672ee49426d54b196daa74B4c4fd8b7>.
- Children living in rural areas had the highest likelihood of not having
been tested.Full story: Majority of Iowa children under age 6 have lead in
their blood
<https://link.axios.com/click/25323238.11879/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL2Rlcy1tb2luZXMvMjAyMS8xMC8xMy9pb3dhLWNoaWxkcmVuLWxlYWQtbGV2ZWxzLWJsb29kLXN0dWR5P3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfZGVzbW9pbmVzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/60672ee49426d54b196daa74B3a1af125>*

*Conclusions and Relevance*  This study suggests that, despite progress in
reducing pediatric lead exposure, substantial individual- and
community-level disparities persist.

-- 

*Debbie Neustadt *


*Des Moines, Iowa*

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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