Public Health
Information Services
Health News by Topic
Phone:
409-938-2211 Fax: 409-938-2243
Childhood Lead
Poisoning
The Health
District’s 2005
Annual report
outlined a
long-known public
health disparity of
an increased burden
of childhood lead
poisoning in certain
zip code areas of
Galveston Island and
on High Island. In
the 2005 report, the
state of Texas
estimates 3.2% of
children under the
age of 6 years have
had elevated lead
levels from 2000 -
2002 data, while
Galveston County
data reflects 13.1%.
The prevalence of
childhood lead
poisoning is a
geographic disparity
by zip codes on
Galveston Island and
Bolivar peninsula.
Zip codes with an
elevated prevalence
of childhood lead
poisoning include:
77553 (41.4%), 77552
(27.3%), 77551
(23.6%, and 77550
(19.0%), followed by
High Island, 77623
(36%).
The Health
District’s roles are
to:
Analyze
reports of
elevated lead
levels that are
reported to the
District’s
epidemiologist
by providers who
test
children. For
more information
contact
Epidemiology at
(409) 938-2322,
or visit the
GHCD web site
www.gchd.org/epidemiology/bloodlead.htm.
Perform
nursing
assessments and
education to
parents of
children
reported to have
elevated lead
levels. For more
information
contact
Community Health
Nursing at (409)
938-2456.
Perform
environmental
assessments to
determine the
source of lead
through the
District’s
Environmental
Services. For
more information
call (409)
938-2251.
Refer
families to any
available
resources for
information on
lead
abatement/remediation. For
a variety of
informational
handouts visit
the Texas
Department of
State Health
Services web
site at
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/lead/default.shtm.
A
meeting of community
leaders to address
childhood lead
poisoning was held
November 19th in
Galveston. The
following news
reports were
published as a
result of actions
taken at the
meeting:
