1043-3155 Pediatr Neurol Briefs pedneurbriefs Pediatr Neurol Briefs Pediatric Neurology Briefs Pediatr Neurol Briefs 2166-6482 1043-3155 2166-3155 Pediatric Neurology Briefs Publishers Chicago, IL, USA PNB-9-62-b 10.15844/pedneurbriefs-9-8-11 Toxic Disorders Neurology Pediatrics Nervous System Diseases Child Development Brain Diseases Neurosurgery Child Infant Lead Exposure in Day Care Centers http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0173-7931 Millichap J. Gordon MD 1 2 * Division of Neurology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL Correspondence: Dr. J. Gordon Millichap, E-mail: jgmillichap@northwestern.edu 08 1995 01 06 2016 9 8 62 63 Copyright: © 1995 The Author(s) 1995 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Elevated environmental lead levels in a day care setting

The risk of lead poisoning among 155 of 234 eligible children (mean age, 4.8 years) enrolled in university affiliated day care centers with elevated environmental lead sources was determined at the Department of Pediatrics and University Hygienic Laboratory, The University of Iowa, Iowa City.

 Lead Exposure Etiology Blood Lead Level

The risk of lead poisoning among 155 of 234 eligible children (mean age, 4.8 years) enrolled in university affiliated day care centers with elevated environmental lead sources was determined at the Department of Pediatrics and University Hygienic Laboratory, The University of Iowa, Iowa City. Elevated levels of lead in paint (2.4% - 40% lead) were found in all six centers tested. Three centers were found to have elevated lead levels in windowsill dust (62000-180000 g Pb/sqM) or soil (530-1100 mg Pb/kgm). Questionnaires completed by parents showed low risk of lead exposure in the homes. Blood lead levels were less than 10 mcg/dL in all but one child. [1]

COMMENT. The lead-safe home environment, careful supervision, and good personal hygiene of these children would explain the relatively low blood lead levels despite elevated environmental lead levels in the day care centers. Major, costly lead abatement efforts would have been unwarranted in this situation.

Pediatric neurologists evaluating children with ADHD are cognizant of the role of lead exposure in the etiology of learning and behavior problems. The home and play environment questionnaire is important in determining the need for blood lead level determinations. Treatment guidelines for lead exposure in children are outlined in an American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs report [2]. Chelation therapy is indicated in patients with blood lead levels of 45 mcg/dL and above, and sometimes in those with persistent levels of 25-45 mcg/dL, despite environmental abatement. Chelation is not indicated for levels less than 25 mcg/dL

 Weismann DN Dusdieker LB Cherryholmes KL Hausler WJ Jr Dungy CI Elevated environmental lead levels in a day care setting Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1995 Aug 149 8 878 881 10.1001/archpedi.1995.02170210052009 7633541 Berlin CM Jr Treatment guidelines for lead exposure in children. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs Pediatrics 1995 Jul 96 1 Pt 1 155 160 7596706