Risk of Lead Poisoning in Abused and Neglected Children

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of lead poisoning in 746 abused and neglected children taken into protective custody by Cook County, Illinois, Child Protective Services, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Most of these children had a history of neglect (62%) or dependency (23%); they were predominantly African-American (88%). Venous blood lead concentrations (PbB) were obtained on 589 children, ages 6 months to 6 years, between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 1992. Three hundred eighty-one (64.7%) children tested had a PbB ≥ 10 μg/dL (0.48 μmol/L); the mean PbB was 12.23 μg/dL (0.587 μmol/L). These data support a recommendation for lead screening in any child with a history of abuse or neglect if environmental risk factors cannot be assessed.