Pediatricians emphasize importance of testing young children for lead levels
In an initiative supported by local pediatricians, universal testing for blood-lead levels may soon be a requirement for Pennsylvania children under age 2.
“I think it’s really the only way to be sure that we can screen kids reliably. Having a widely accepted workflow that is done on a regular basis makes it more likely that kids who need to be screened are screened,” said Dr. David Wolfson, medical director of Children’s Community Pediatrics, which has offices in the Mon Valley and Uniontown.
Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation for the number of houses built before 1950 when lead paint was common, according to 2010 U.S. Census Data and the state Department of Health’s latest report on childhood lead poisoning prevention.
The study indicates 28 percent of children under age 2 were tested for blood-lead levels in 2015. Locally, testing rates are slightly below the state average, although only 22 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties reported rates above 28 percent.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced his support for universal testing Aug. 30, calling on the state Department of Health to work with the General Assembly to draft new legislation, according to a press release.
“We need to be able to identify all children who have elevated blood-lead levels in order to make sure their families have access to the services they need,” he said. “Only with universal testing will we know the true scope of lead poisoning in Pennsylvania and be able to refer affected children for care.”
Testing rates for children under age 2 in 2015 were 21 percent in Greene County, 26 percent in Fayette County, 25 percent in Washington County and 2 percent in Westmoreland County, according to the study.
Greene County ranked the highest among the four counties for children with elevated blood lead levels at a rate of 2.56 percent. In Fayette, Westmoreland and Washington counties, elevated levels were at 1.93, 1.25 and 0.78 percent respectively.
Local pediatricians said it is common practice to test their youngest patient’s blood levels for lead because universal testing has been a longtime recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Many patients are tested between 9 and 12 months of age and again at about age 2.
“It’s pretty straightforward. I think (universal) screening will really bring a lot more to light,” said Wolfson.
Dr. Eric Schaff of Cherry Tree Pediatrics in Uniontown said a universal testing requirement would open up additional resources for testing. The study indicated universal testing would provide a more accurate picture of the commonality of high lead levels and show where resources are most needed.
Dr. Rachel Levine, Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General, said universal testing will address data gaps and enable the department to develop and implement lead-poisoning prevention strategies.
“In the meantime, we encourage parents to talk to their pediatricians about the risk factors and ask that their child be tested. It is essential to learn the facts and your individual risks to prevent lead poisoning because any level of lead detected in your child’s blood is too high,” she said.
Schaff said years ago it was much more common for him to have a patient with high blood-lead levels, and some became sick.
“I think we’ve been much more aggressive and learned from the past,” he said of national responses to lead poisoning rates.
Wolfson said the most common source of lead is from dust particles in older homes with lead paint. Home testing can determine whether lead is in paint, he said. If there is lead in the paint, he advised parents to paint over the existing paint with lead-free paint and remove any peeling paint surfaces.
He said early screening is crucial to prevent children from exposure to lead.