Few children screened for lead

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Approximately 7.6 percent of Missouri children under age 6 who were tested for lead exposure had dangerously high levels in their bloodstreams, the state Department of Health's latest report says.

During the state fiscal year that ran from July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2001, 4,572 children in the target age group had elevated lead levels. While the statewide percentage of children with high lead levels is in line with the national average, it doesn't give a clear indication of how many Missouri children are actually suffering from lead exposure, which can cause a variety of physical, mental and behavioral problems.

In the year covered by the latest report, only 14 percent of all Missouri children under age 6 were screened for lead exposure. At the moment, such screenings aren't mandatory, except for Medicaid recipients.

The prevalence of screening varies widely throughout the state, said Susan E. Thomas, coordinator of the health department's childhood lead poisoning program.

"There are some doctors who test every kid who walks through the door," Thomas said. "Some doctors don't test any kids who walk through the door."

Testing is most thorough in areas where there is a recognized problem, such as in Herculaneum, where long-term lead contamination from a local smelter has brought statewide attention to the issue.

During calendar year 2001, 67 children under 6 who live in close proximity to the Doe Run Co. facility were tested, with 30 -- 45 percent -- showing elevated lead levels. The percentage is nearly six times Missouri's average.

"When you compare it to what you see statewide, the problem going on in Herculaneum is certainly significant," said Scott Sclady, the deputy director for the health department's environmental health section.

Of 19 Southeast Missouri counties, the percentage of children screened showing elevated levels exceeded the state average in six. All but two of those -- Cape Girardeau and Ripley -- are in former lead-mining counties on the northern end of the region where screening is more common.

While 10.7 percent of children tested in Cape Girardeau County showed high levels, only 2 percent of those in the county under 6 -- 103 children in all -- were screened, making it difficult to gauge the severity of the problem locally.

Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, said the center just this year began increased efforts to screen more children.

"When we realized only 2 percent of the population was tested, we decided to take it on as a major initiative to get more kids tested," Craig said.

The center now offers lead screenings for every child under 6 it serves. Craig said more extensive testing likely will identify a greater number of children with elevated levels, but she doesn't believe it will uncover a major local problem.

While exposure from contamination is an obvious problem in lead mining and processing communities such as Herculaneum, Thomas said most children come in contact with lead in their homes.

"Lead-based paint is still the No. 1 way for children to get lead poisoning," Thomas said.

This puts at greater risk lower-income children who live in older houses that contain lead paint.

The General Assembly passed a law last year that requires the health department to more thoroughly screen at-risk children. However, the department is still in the process of developing rules for implementing the testing program, which isn't expected to be in operation until the end of the year.

Thomas said early detection of excessive lead exposure is key to mitigating long-term health problems.

"Children can become well-functioning adults even if they were lead-poisoned when they were small, but it sure can cause delays in getting there," Thomas said.

Steps as simple as making children frequently wash their hands, keeping the home relatively dust-free, clean of paint chips and making sure children have a diet rich in calcium can cut down the risks of lead exposure, Thomas said.

The health department reports the results of lead screenings for both fiscal and calendar years. The report on calendar year 2001 is expected to be released next month.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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