Screening for lead poisoning in a population of children aged 12 to 20 months who were seen at a health screening center in Paris, April–September 2004

Lead poisoning in children is a major public health concern in the Île-de-France region. A 1999 Inserm expert panel estimated that 85,000 children aged 1 to 6 in France had blood lead levels of 100 μg/L or higher (representing 2.1 ± 0.5% of the population). Results from the national lead poisoning surveillance system, established in 1995, show diagnoses well below this estimate: in 2001, 423 reports of childhood lead poisoning were received by the Departmental Directorates of Health and Social Affairs. According to the recommendations of the 2003 ANAES consensus conference, screening for risk factors for lead exposure should be systematic, particularly before the age of 7. The objective of this study is to present the results of a lead poisoning screening strategy implemented at a child health examination center and to describe the characteristics of the children identified and diagnosed with lead poisoning. (R.A.)

Author(s): Vincelet C, Bangratz C, Foucault C

Publishing year: 2005

Pages: 57-8

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2005, n° 15, p. 57-8

In relation to

Our latest news

news

Alcohol Meter: A Review After 6 Years of Use by the French to Assess Their...

news

Extreme heat affects us all: let's adopt the right habits

news

G7 Summit in Evian: Enhanced Health Monitoring