Lead Poisoning Among Burmese Refugee Children—Indiana, 2009

Recent routine screening revealed multiple cases of unexplained lead poisoning among children of Burmese refugees living in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine (a) the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) among Burmese children and (b) potential sources...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical pediatrics 2011-07, Vol.50 (7), p.648-656
Main Authors: Ritchey, Matthew D., Scalia Sucosky, Marissa, Jefferies, Taran, McCormick, David, Hesting, Amy, Blanton, Curtis, Duwve, Joan, Bruner, Robin, Randolph Daley, W., Jarrett, Jeffery, Brown, Mary Jean
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood levels
Child
Child, Preschool
Children
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Gastrointestinal Agents - adverse effects
Health risk assessment
Humans
Indiana - epidemiology
Infant
Laboratory tests
Lead
Lead poisoning
Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood - blood
Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood - diagnosis
Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood - epidemiology
Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood - etiology
Linear Models
Male
Medical screening
Medicine, East Asian Traditional - adverse effects
Multilevel
Myanmar - ethnology
Poisoning
Prevalence
Refugees
Risk Factors
Traditional medicine
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Summary:Recent routine screening revealed multiple cases of unexplained lead poisoning among children of Burmese refugees living in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine (a) the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) among Burmese children and (b) potential sources of lead exposure. A case was defined as an elevated venous BLL (≥10 µg/dL); prevalence was compared with all Indiana children screened during 2008. Environmental and product samples were tested for lead. In all, 14 of 197 (7.1%) children had elevated BLLs (prevalence ratio: 10.7) that ranged from 10.2 to 29.0 µg/dL. Six cases were newly identified; 4 were among US-born children. Laboratory testing identified a traditional ethnic digestive remedy, Daw Tway, containing a median 520 ppm lead. A multilevel linear regression model identified daily use of thanakha, an ethnic cosmetic, and Daw Tway use were related to elevated BLLs (P < .05). Routine monitoring of BLLs among this population should remain a priority.
ISSN:0009-9228
1938-2707
DOI:10.1177/0009922811398958