Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
|
Learning Objectives |
Upon completion of this section, you will be able to
|
Introduction |
The main instruction to the patient should be to eliminate the source of lead exposure. These recommendations will depend on the type of sources and setting (i.e., home or workplace). |
Domestic Environmental Exposures to Lead |
People may be exposed to lead through a variety of sources including deteriorated paint, contaminated soil, water, or other products. For children (and adults) with domestic exposures, there may be multiple sources. Therefore, it is important to encourage patients to address all potential sources of lead and to continue blood lead monitoring to help confirm that the source(s) has been effectively eliminated. In all cases, patients should be advised to
It can be difficult for low-income patients to permanently address all lead hazards in their homes due to costs and/or landlord relationships (if they are renters). There are federal disclosure laws for potential renters/buyers that require landlords and sellers to disclose any known lead hazard. However, in many communities grants are available to help with lead hazard control. Additionally, there are many low-cost ways to temporarily reduce lead hazards in homes. The patient instruction sheets provide several helpful references. Lead poisoning from old or peeling paint continues to be a serious health risk to American children. In 2002 the Centers for Disease Control estimated that almost 14% of U.S. children have unsafe levels of lead in their blood, despite decades of work to reduce childhood exposure to lead paint. EPA wants to remind parents, contractors and health care workers of the importance of lead-safe practices during renovation of homes built before 1978. See: www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/lead/renovate-right.html Covering bare soil contaminated with lead in the yard with grass or other type of covering can reduce exposures. Guidelines are available from governmental and nongovernmental organizations to help health care providers instruct their patients in reducing home lead hazards (CEHN 1999). It is also important that residents wet-clean regularly, as children's blood lead levels have been found to be directly correlated with levels of lead in dust in their homes (Lanphear et al. 1998). Patient-friendly, lead resources on the web.
|
Occupational Exposures to Lead |
OSHA requires that the patient speaks to employer about removal from exposure that can help avoid further exposure. These include
|
Clinical Follow-Up |
Patients should be reminded of the importance of scheduling follow-up medical surveillance (blood lead testing.) Patients also need to understand when and why they should call their physician for further medical attention. In particular, they should know to have their blood lead monitored on an ongoing basis to confirm removal from the source of exposure. The ATSDR's patient education sheet on lead toxicity, included in this case study, provides a more detailed checklist that can be used to indicate which types of follow-up are relevant for a given patient. |
Key Points |
|
Progress Check |