Racial differences in Urban children's environmental exposures to lead

This study explored whether differences in environmental lead exposures explain the racial disparity in children's blood lead levels. Environmental sources of lead were identified for a random sample of 172 urban children. Blood lead levels were significantly higher among Black children. Lead-c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 1996-10, Vol.86 (10), p.1460-1463
Main Authors: Lanphear, B P, Weitzman, M, Eberly, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African Continental Ancestry Group
Biological and medical sciences
Child Behavior
Child, Preschool
Children & youth
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dust
Dust - analysis
Environmental Exposure
Environmental pollutants toxicology
European Continental Ancestry Group
Female
General aspects
Households
Houses
Housing
Housing conditions
Humans
Inequality
Infant
Lead - analysis
Lead - blood
Lead content
Lead exposure
Lead poisoning
Male
Medical sciences
Outdoors
Public health
Race
Racial differences
Regression Analysis
Rentals
Soil - analysis
Toxicology
Urban areas
Urban Health
USA
Young children
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Summary:This study explored whether differences in environmental lead exposures explain the racial disparity in children's blood lead levels. Environmental sources of lead were identified for a random sample of 172 urban children. Blood lead levels were significantly higher among Black children. Lead-contamination of dust was higher in Black children's homes, and the condition of floors and interior paint was generally poorer. White children were more likely to put soil in their mouths and to suck their fingers, whereas Black children were more likely to put their mouths on window sills and to use a bottle. Major contributors to blood lead were interior lead exposures for Black children and exterior lead exposures for White children. Differences in housing conditions and exposures to lead-contaminated house dust contribute strongly to the racial disparity in urban children's blood lead levels.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.86.10.1460