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According to Dr. Erica Freeman, a pediatric resident at the University ofWashington and one of the project leaders, "The CHIMPS team tested 55children, ages one to five years, for blood-lead levels, hemoglobin, and ZPPH(a sensitive diagnostic indicator for iron deficiency anemia). In most cases,we were able to perform all three tests using capillary blood samples drawnfrom a single lancet puncture. Six children, or 11 percent of those tested,had elevated lead levels greater than 10 ug/dl (ranging from 10.5 to 20.2ug/dl). Boys were 2.3 times more likely than girls to have elevated leadlevels, and the most significantly elevated lead levels were in children whosehouseholds included adults with occupational lead exposure. LeadCare'simmediate results became an integral part of our education process: forfamilies of children with elevated lead levels, we provided additionalcounseling around decreasing environmental lead exposure, and in one case, wealso made a home visit."
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The CHIMPS team worked closely with a local non-governmental organizationand the community leadership council, which was key to the project's success,helping increase the group's sensitivity to local needs. Most important, thecommunity leaders helped the team carry out health education and mobilize thecommunity. More than 100 community members attended the health educationevents held in the community center at the end of the week of testing. ESA hasdonated additional LeadCare reagent kits for use at the Benjamin BloomChildren's Hospital in San Salvador, one of only two tertiary care centers forchildren in Central America.
Dr. Freeman continued, "A team member returned to Regala de Dios inJanuary to perform follow-up testing on the children identified with elevatedblood-lead levels the previous September. All of their levels had dropped toless than 10 ug/dl, below the toxic threshold according to World HealthOrganization guidelines. Although the sample size was small, we believe thatthese results demonstrate that screening and education may be an effective wayto reduce the prevalence of lead toxicity in communities with a high risk oflead poisoning."
Why regular blood-lead screening tests are important for young children
Elevated lead levels are connected to a host of learning and socialproblems -- from reading difficulties and ADHD to increased risk of violenceand drop-outs. Recent studies even suggest that some of the mental declineassociated with aging -- for example, losses in verbal and visual memory andlanguage ability -- may relate to lead exposure earlier in life. Earlyidentification of elevated blood-lead levels is key to mitigating lead'spotentially devastating effects. Regular blood-lead screening tests forchildren under age six,
