Professionals' Perceptions: "Why is Lead Poisoning Prevalent in Lancaster County?"

Okatch Okatch,Chen Chen,Kuon Kuon,Scheuring Scheuring,Cherney Cherney,Mokshefsky Mokshefsky,Ritchey Ritchey

doi:10.3390/ijerph16132281

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of lead poisoning in children under the age of six years living in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania continues to be greater than the state-wide prevalence for this age group. This study aims to determine the factors that contribute to the high lead poisoning rates. Methods: For this qualitative study, the researchers recruited a convenience sample of professionals providing healthcare and social welfare services in the county. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with participants. The research team audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed each interview using NVivo 12 software. Results: The 16 interviewed participants identified factors that contribute to high lead poisoning rates including knowledge levels, housing status, and competing interests. Specifically, low knowledge levels, renting as opposed to home ownership, and having competing interests seemed to minimize the attention directed towards preventing lead poisoning. The experts offered recommendations to address the high lead poisoning rates including increasing lead knowledge levels of both community members and landlords, through creating and distributing health promotion material, enacting policies to empower renters, and systematically collaborating to streamline lead poisoning related information and services. Conclusions: Findings provide insights to factors that Lancaster can address to achieve a decrease in lead poisoning rates. This study provides information that can be utilized by public health professionals to develop appropriate interventions.

Highlights

Nationwide, almost half a million children between the ages of one and five years have elevated blood lead levels (EBLL); a blood lead level greater than 5 ug/dL is considered the actionable level, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [1]
This study aimed to identify the factors that have contributed to the persistent high prevalence of EBLLs in children under the age of six years in Lancaster County
The researchers identified the three main themes, on the basis of frequency, that professionals acknowledged as contributing to the high lead poisoning rates in Lancaster; (i) low levels of knowledge about lead poisoning, (ii) housing status, and (iii) competing interests

Summary

Introduction

Nationwide, almost half a million children between the ages of one and five years have elevated blood lead levels (EBLL); a blood lead level greater than 5 ug/dL is considered the actionable level, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [1]. A study by Stretesky and Lynch showed that lead poisoning can affect one’s hormonal system, resulting in aggressive, violent behavior, or even homicide [7]. In response to these outcomes, professionals have made various efforts to provide a solution. In June of 2018, Pennsylvania passed a bill amendment requiring all publicly funded schools to test their water for lead and release the results to the public, in the event of elevated levels [9]. The prevalence of lead poisoning in children under the age of six years living in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania continues to be greater than the state-wide prevalence for this age group. This study aims to determine the factors that contribute to the high lead poisoning rates

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