LEAD POISONING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN DETROIT: PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS
Excessive lead exposure is a continuing, pervasive and serious threat to the health of American children (Chaisson & Gloltzer, 1996). Although lead poisoning can affect both children and adults, a substantial body of research indicates that it is most common in children ages 1 to 6 years (Fisher & Vessey, 1998).
In terms of its effects, children with very high levels of lead poisoning may sometimes experience symptoms such as loss of appetite, irritability, stomach pains, fatigue, constipation, and vomiting; however, frequently they will manifest no immediate symptoms at all (Berlin, 1997). Even children with lower levels of lead poisoning and no symptoms may go on to develop problems with speech, behavior, and learning ability (Fisher & Vessey, 1998). Further, there can sometimes be deficits in the visual system and visual-perceptual skills (Steele & Kattouf, 2000); decreased growth and slowed development (Kafourou, Touloumi, Markaopoulos, Loutraci, Papanagioutou & Hatzakis, 1997); and social adjustment problems (Needleman, Riess, Tobin, Biesecker & Greenhouse, 1996).
While lead poisoning in children is a global health problem, between four and six percent of children living in the United States are estimated to have lead poisoning (Gale Group, 2000). In the state of Michigan, the levels of lead poisoning are alarming; specifically, Michigan ranks second with Illinois and Ohio in terms of its lead hazard (Michigan Department of Community Health, 2000).
Many authors have suggested that parental knowledge of lead poisoning can help to prevent young children from exposure to lead, and have highly recommended parent education as a means of combating the development of this condition.(Mehta & Binns, 1998). However, there has not been extensive study of what parents do know about lead poisoning. Moreover, some of the very few studies that have been acc...