Households get letters on doormat for lead poisoning checks | UK | News
Letters have been sent to homes in one part of the UK asking them to take part in an investigation into possible lead poisoning.
Letters are being sent to up to 150,000 households in Leeds asking them to take part in an investigation into lead exposure.
The study, launched by the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA), screens children for lead exposure and could ‘transform the way the UK monitors and responds to lead exposure in children’.
Study participants will use home finger-prick blood sampling kits, as well as provide soil and house dust samples and research data to help understand possible sources of exposure.
The study aims to create a ‘cohort’ of 500 participants, children aged between 1 and 6.
Exposure to lead can be harmful, especially for children. The UKHSA said possible dangers include nervous system damage, delayed growth and hearing loss, as well as many other negative and long-term health effects, as well as impacts on social, economic, educational and community well-being.
Professor Jane Entwistle, Project Leader and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Environment Department at Northumbria University’s Faculty of Science, said: “Regulatory interventions have successfully reduced lead levels in petrol, paint, plumbing, glasses, kitchenware and toys.
“But lead pollution remains widespread in the environment, found in soil, water, dust, food and air, so many children are still affected by exposure.
“Pregnant women, unborn babies, and children are particularly vulnerable, and even low-level exposure can reduce a child’s attention span, reduce school performance, and increase aggressive behavior.”
Of the cases currently reported to lead exposure in the UKHSA’s child surveillance system (LEICSS), those most affected are young boys aged 1 to 4 years, mostly living in deprived areas and older housing, with contaminated soil and paint among the main sources of exposure.
Children with learning or developmental disabilities are at higher risk of lead exposure; Of the reported cases under investigation, 82% exhibited pica behavior (persistent eating of non-food items) and 69% had learning disabilities.
Leeds was chosen as the pilot location for the study as UKHSA data shows Yorkshire and the Humber reported the majority of childhood lead poisoning cases over the last decade. This high detection rate is attributed to increased testing of children in the region as a result of increased local awareness of the dangers of lead poisoning.
Researchers believe a similar number of cases exist in other parts of the UK, but a lack of awareness means fewer children are being tested.
Consultant Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Carys Lippiatt said: “Currently if we need to test a child for lead exposure they need to come to a clinic for a venous blood sample test. This is time consuming for the family and healthcare professional and is often distressing for the child. However, since COVID-19 testing at home has become more acceptable.”
“This new technique accurately measures a finger-prick blood sample, similar to what diabetic children use to test blood sugar, allowing samples to be collected in the comfort of home without a healthcare professional.”
