A Pound of Prevention, an Ounce of Cure: Paradigm Shifts in Childhood Lead Poisoning Programs

Deleading is a dangerous process which, if improperly done, can result in acute lead intoxication. The following case report illustrates what happened to an already-lead-poisoned child's lead level when he was not excluded from his apartment during deleading. Supportive evidence is provided from 12 additional cases recently seen by the same pediatric practice. The issues behind the failure of these families to vacate their apartments during deleading are discussed, and the need for lead-poisoning prevention programs to address these issues, particularly that of providing alternative shelter during deleading, is stressed. Society should adequately fund such programs so that they become a reality.

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Letter to the Editor

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.93.2.344 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 93 (2) ◽

pp. 344-344

Author(s):

J. Routt Reigart

Keyword(s):

Environmental Health ◽

Lead Poisoning ◽

Universal Screening ◽

Prevention Programs ◽

Letters To The Editor ◽

Childhood Lead Poisoning ◽

Letter To The Editor ◽

Screening Strategies ◽

Lead Poisoning Prevention ◽

Poisoning Prevention

Drs Gellert and Wagner have made some excellent points regarding the need to devise specific, local, lead poisoning prevention programs. Although the Letters to the Editor sections of journals are not the proper forum in which to devise such programs, several general comments should be made. The Committee on Environmental Health carefully drafted its statement on childhood lead poisoning prevention to allow and encourage reasoned and reasonable discussion of screening strategies. The term "universal screening" is intentionally not used in the statement.

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Pool Cue Chalk: A Source of Environmental Lead

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.97.6.916 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 97 (6) ◽

pp. 916-917

Author(s):

Mary Beth Miller ◽

Steven C. Curry ◽

Donald B. Kunkel ◽

Patricia Arreola ◽

Ernest Arvizu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atomic Absorption ◽

Lead Poisoning ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Lead Content ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Childhood Lead Poisoning ◽

Environmental Lead ◽

Lead Compounds ◽

Different Types ◽

Coloring Agents

Lead compounds are used as coloring agents for numerous products. Two cases of children with elevated blood lead concentrations encountered by the authors suggested that pool cue chalk may serve as a source of environmental lead. The objective of this study was to determine lead content of various brands and colors of pool cue chalk. Atomic absorption analyses were conducted of 23 different types of pool cue chalk for lead content. Three of 23 types of pool cue chalk contained more than 7000 ppm (mg/kg) lead: one manufacturer's green and tangerine chalk and another manufacturer's green chalk. It was concluded that some brands of pool cue chalk contain relatively large amounts of lead and could contribute to childhood lead poisoning.

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