Childhood lead poisoning, New York City, 1988

Abstract

In 1988, a total of 796 cases of childhood lead poisoning were identified through surveillance by the New York City Bureau of Lead Poisoning Control (BLPC), an estimated 0.3 cases identified per 100 children screened. Sixty-two percent of the case-group children had blood-lead levels between 25 and 34 micrograms/dl. One- and two-year-old children accounted for 61% of cases. Of the children in the case group, 59% were black and 27% were Hispanic. From 1986 through 1989, the annual number of children screened increased by 27%, while the annual number of new cases fell by 30%. Because of incomplete screening, false negative results, and lack of information on children with lower but potentially harmful levels of blood lead (10-24 micrograms/dl), the magnitude of excessive lead absorption in New York City children is underestimated. These surveillance data indicate that lead poisoning among children is a persistent public health problem in New York City.