Recently Recalled Children's Products Due to Lead Hazards.

Objective: We reviewed recent reports of recalled children's products contaminated with lead to learn more about what could be done to inform public health partners about the recalls in a timely manner to assist with broader consumer notification for proactive lead poisoning prevention efforts.

Methods: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff reviewed lead-related recall notices for children's products issued during June 2022 through April 2024. Recall notices were extracted from the Consumer Product Safety Commission using Really Simple Syndication feed technology to identify and capture the most current recall information.

State-Level Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Policies and Practices in the United States: 2022-2023.

Objectives: The purpose of this analysis is to better understand laws and practices guiding prevention activities in childhood lead poisoning prevention programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Methods: In 2022, CDC surveyed 62 funded programs using the Awardee Lead Profile Assessment. Information was collected about childhood lead poisoning-related laws and guidance, surveillance and prevention strategies, and program services including at what blood lead levels (BLLs) various activities are performed.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of State-Level Policies on Childhood Blood Lead Testing Rates.

Context: Lead exposure can harm nearly every organ in the human body. Millions of US children are exposed to lead hazards. Identifying lead-exposed children using blood lead testing is essential for connecting them to appropriate follow-up services.

Update of the Blood Lead Reference Value - United States, 2021.

The negative impact of lead exposure on young children and those who become pregnant is well documented but is not well known by those at highest risk from this hazard. Scientific evidence suggests that there is no known safe blood lead level (BLL), because even small amounts of lead can be harmful to a child's developing brain (1). In 2012, CDC introduced the population-based blood lead reference value (BLRV) to identify children exposed to more lead than most other children in the United States.

The Flint Water Crisis: A Coordinated Public Health Emergency Response and Recovery Initiative.

Context: The City of Flint was already distressed because of decades of financial decline when an estimated 140 000 individuals were exposed to lead and other contaminants in drinking water. In April 2014, Flint's drinking water source was changed from Great Lakes' Lake Huron (which was provided by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department) to the Flint River without necessary corrosion control treatment to prevent lead release from pipes and plumbing. Lead exposure can damage children's brains and nervous systems, lead to slow growth and development, and result in learning, behavior, hearing, and speech problems.

Reconstructing Historical VOC Concentrations in Drinking Water for Epidemiological Studies at a U.S. Military Base: Summary of Results.

A U.S. government health agency conducted epidemiological studies to evaluate whether exposures to drinking water contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOC) at U.

Evaluation of contaminated drinking water and male breast cancer at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a case control study.

Background: Solvents contaminated drinking water supplies at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune during 1950s-1985.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study among Marines to evaluate associations between residential exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune and male breast cancer risk. The study included 71 male breast cancer cases and 373 controls identified from the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) cancer registry whose military personnel records were available.

Temporal trends of acute chemical incidents and injuries—Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance, nine states, 1999-2008.

Problem/condition: Widespread use of hazardous chemicals in the United States is associated with unintentional acute chemical incidents (i.e., uncontrolled or illegal release or threatened release of hazardous substances lasting <72 hours).

Evaluation of contaminated drinking water and preterm birth, small for gestational age, and birth weight at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Births during 1968-1985 at Camp Lejeune were exposed to drinking water contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and benzene.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate associations between residential prenatal exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune during 1968-1985 and preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA), term low birth weight (TLBW), and mean birth weight (MBW) deficit. Birth certificates identified mothers residing at Camp Lejeune at delivery.

Mortality study of civilian employees exposed to contaminated drinking water at USMC Base Camp Lejeune: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Two drinking water systems at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina were contaminated with solvents during 1950s-1985.

Evaluation of mortality among marines and navy personnel exposed to contaminated drinking water at USMC base Camp Lejeune: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Two drinking water systems at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina were contaminated with solvents during 1950s-1985.

Evaluation of exposure to contaminated drinking water and specific birth defects and childhood cancers at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: a case-control study.

Background: Drinking water supplies at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune were contaminated with trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, benzene, vinyl chloride and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene during 1968 through 1985.

Methods: We conducted a case control study to determine if children born during 1968-1985 to mothers with residential exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune during pregnancy were more likely to have childhood hematopoietic cancers, neural tube defects (NTDs), or oral clefts. For cancers, exposures during the first year of life were also evaluated.

Using Chemical Release Surveillance Data to Evaluate the Public Health Impacts of Chlorine and Its Alternatives.

Background: More than 80 million Americans may be at risk of a chemical exposure because they live near one of the 101 most hazardous chemical facilities or near routes used to transport hazardous chemicals. One approach to hazard reduction is to use less toxic alternatives. Chlorine, one of the chemicals posing the greatest public health danger, has several alternatives depending on the application.

The 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference: one model for planning green and healthy conferences.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Environmental Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry committed to making their 2009 National Environmental Public Health Conference a model for green and healthy conferences. The conference included increased opportunities for physical activity, both as part of conference events and for transportation to the conference. In addition, conference meals were healthy and sustainably sourced.

A U.S. partnership with India and Poland to track acute chemical releases to serve public health.

We describe a collaborative effort between the U.S., India, and Poland to track acute chemical releases during 2005-2007.

Public health consequences on vulnerable populations from acute chemical releases.

Data from a large, multi-state surveillance system on acute chemical releases were analyzed to describe the type of events that are potentially affecting vulnerable populations (children, elderly and hospitalized patients) in order to better prevent and plan for these types of incidents in the future. During 2003-2005, there were 231 events where vulnerable populations were within ¼ mile of the event and the area of impact was greater than 200 feet from the facility/point of release. Most events occurred on a weekday during times when day care centers or schools were likely to be in session.

Hazardous substances releases associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in industrial settings, Louisiana and Texas.

The scientific literature concerning the public health response to the unprecedented hurricanes striking the Gulf Coast in August and September 2005 has focused mainly on assessing health-related needs and surveillance of injuries, infectious diseases, and other illnesses. However, the hurricanes also resulted in unintended hazardous substances releases in the affected states. Data from two states (Louisiana and Texas) participating in the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system were analyzed to describe the characteristics of hazardous substances releases in industrial settings associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Are nitrate levels in groundwater stable over time?

Epidemiologists often use a retrospective study design to examine for associations between an exposure and the occurrence of adverse health effects. Several of these studies used this approach to examine for an association between elevated levels of nitrate in drinking water and related health effects such as methemoglobinemia, cancer, neural tube effects, or spontaneous abortions. Often, data on exposures that occurred before these health outcomes were not available.

Surveillance of hazardous substances releases due to system interruptions, 2002.

The Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system collected information on 9014 acute hazardous substance releases in 15 participating states in 2002. There were 3749 fixed-facility manufacturing events, of which 2100 involved "interruptions" to normal processing and 1649 "comparisons" that did not involve interruption. Equipment failure (69%) or intentional acts (20%) were the main root factor.

Analyzing acute-chemical-release data to describe chemicals that may be used as weapons of terrorism.

The authors analyzed a database of acute chemical releases to describe characteristics of chemicals that may be used as weapons of terrorism. Chemicals of primary concern (Priority I) on the Chemical Terrorism Listing of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were cross-referenced with data for 1993-2002 from the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system. HSEES captured 58,043 single-substance releases of 2,366 chemicals during this time period.

Human error and time of occurrence in hazardous material events in mining and manufacturing.

Human error has played a role in several large-scale hazardous materials events. To assess how human error and time of occurrence may have contributed to acute chemical releases, data from the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system for 1996-2003 were analyzed. Analyses were restricted to events in mining or manufacturing where human error was a contributing factor.

Hazardous-chemical releases in the home.

Data from the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system were analyzed for the period 1996-2001 to describe the chemicals, causal factors, temporal patterns, types of adverse effects, and public health actions (e.g., an evacuation) associated with releases of hazardous chemicals in the home.

The role of adverse weather conditions in acute releases of hazardous substances, Texas, 2000-2001.

High winds, flooding, lightning, and other phenomena associated with adverse weather can cause power failures, equipment damage, and process upsets resulting in chemical releases. Of the 5000 events in Texas that were reported to the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system during 2000-2001, adverse weather conditions contributed to 110 (2%) events. Rain was the most frequent adverse weather condition.