Dietary exposure of children in lead-laden environments

Childrens' touching and mouthing behaviors during outdoor play in urban residential yards were measured using video observations. Descriptions were made of childrens' outdoor residential play environments. Behaviors assessed were used to examine (1) validity of parental responses to questions on childrens' oral behaviors and outdoor play and (2) relationships of mouthing behaviors to blood lead levels (BLLs). Thirty-seven children aged 1-5 years were recruited for 2 h of video recording in their yard and blood lead measurement. Video assessments included hourly rates of hand touches to ground/ walking-level surfaces (cement/stone/steel, porch floor/steps, grass, and bare soil) and oral behaviors. Parental questionnaires assessed their child's outdoor activities, behaviors, and home environment. The children were: mean 39 months; 51% male; 89% Hispanic; and 78% Medicaid or uninsured. Twenty-two children had a blood lead measured (mean 6 mg/dl). During taping, all children had access to cement, 92% to grass, 73% to bare soil, and 59% to an open porch. Children had frequent touching and mouthing behaviors observed (median touches/h: touches to surfaces 81; hand-to-mouth area (with and without food) 26; hand-in-mouth 7; and object-in-mouth 17). Blood lead was directly correlated with log-transformed rates of hand-in-mouth (Pearson's correlation, r ¼ 0.564, n ¼ 22, P ¼ 0.006) and object-in-mouth (Pearson's correlation, r ¼ 0.482, n ¼ 22, P ¼ 0.023) behaviors. Parental questionnaire responses did not accurately reflect childrens' observed oral behaviors, play habits, or play environment. These data confirm the direct relationship between hand-to-mouth activities and BLLs and fail to validate parental perceptions of their child's mouthing behaviors or outdoor play environment.

Section: Studies Of Oral Behaviors Using Video Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships of video assessments of touching and mouthing behaviors during outdoor play in urban residential yards to parental perceptions of child behaviors and blood lead levels

Schaefer

Vicario

et al. 2006

“…Food items found on the floor in the homes were also collected for lead analysis if the parent thought that the food was something the child might pick up and eat. The lead content of the duplicate diet and the other foods are reported by Melnyk et al ( 2000 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hand -to -mouth activities such as mouthing toys and sucking fingers or thumbs are associated with elevated blood lead in young children ( Charney et al, 1980;Bellinger et al, 1986;Baghurst et al, 1992;Langphear et al, 1996;Freeman et al, 1997 ). At the same time, lead levels on children's hands are associated with blood lead levels and with lead levels in homes and playgrounds (Charney et al, 1980;Angle et al, 1984;Bornschein et al, 1985;Que Hee et al, 1985;Thornton et al, 1990 ), and positive correlations exist between lead on children's hands, lead in the environment, and blood lead levels (Angle et al, 1984;Baghurst et al, 1992;Melnyk et al, 2000 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of children's activities to lead contamination of food

Freeman

Sheldon

Jimenez³

et al. 2001

Self Cite

This study evaluates the relationship of children's hygiene habits and food -handling behaviors on lead levels on hands and handled foods for toddlers living in lead -contaminated homes. Forty -eight inner city toddlers previously identified as having elevated blood lead levels participated in three consecutive days of designated food -handling activities. During the visits, duplicate diets were obtained, the child handled a banana, a hot dog, and had his / her hands wiped with a moist towelette. In addition, wipe samples were collected from the kitchen floor, and food items were deposited on and subsequently collected from the kitchen floor. All samples were analyzed for lead. The child's caregiver completed a questionnaire, which addressed the child's hygiene and eating behaviors. It was demonstrated that children's contact with residential dust containing lead can transfer lead to food. Both lead in the home and on the children's hands contribute to the contamination of food, and hence potential dietary exposure. Mean lead in handled bananas was 26 g / kg and on hot dogs 65 g / kg, and mean lead values on cheese and apple slices that had been on the floor were 119 and 215 g / kg. In addition, the child's hygiene habits as reported by the parent indicate that lack of basic hygiene patterns within a high lead environment can contribute to children's dietary exposure to lead.

“…Children consuming food in a contaminated environment are susceptible to dietary exposures not traditionally measured with duplicate diets. Such exposures, termed excess dietary exposures, are derived from contact between foods and contaminated surfaces (Melnyk et al, 2000). Limited data exist concerning these transfers, but they are thought to be a critical element in predicting total dietary exposure (Akland et al, 2000;Melnyk et al, 2000;Hu et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Children are particularly susceptible to such added exposures due to unstructured eating behaviors (Goldman, 1995;Landrigan et al, 1999;Hubal et al, 2000) and as a result, these activities can become an important factor in determining total dietary intakes (Akland et al, 2000;Melnyk et al, 2000;Freeman et al, 2001). In an effort to account for all routes of intake, a Children's Dietary Intake Model (CDIM) was developed (Akland et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface-to-food pesticide transfer as a function of moisture and fat content

Vonderheide

Bernard

Hieber

et al. 2008

Self Cite

b National Council on the AgingTransfer of pesticides from household surfaces to foods may result in excess dietary exposure in children (i.e., beyond that inherent in foods due to agricultural application). In this study, transfer was evaluated as a function of the moisture and fat content of various foods. Surfaces chosen for investigation were those commonly found in homes and included Formica s , ceramic tile, plastic, carpet, and upholstery fabric. Each surface type was sprayed with an aqueous emulsion of organophosphates, fipronil, and synthetic pyrethroids. In the first phase of the study, multiple foods (apples, watermelon, wheat crackers, graham crackers, white bread, flour tortillas, bologna, fat-free bologna, sugar cookies, ham, Fruit Roll-ups s , pancakes, and processed American cheese) were categorized with respect to moisture and fat content. All were evaluated for potential removal of applied pesticides from a Formica surface. In the second phase of the study, representative foods from each classification were investigated for their potential for pesticide transfer with an additional four surfaces: ceramic tile, plastic, upholstery, and carpet. Moisture content, not fat, was found to be a determining factor in most transfers. For nearly all surfaces, more efficient transfer occurred with increased hardness (Formica and ceramic tile). Comparatively, the polymer composition of the plastic delivered overall lower transfer efficiencies, presumably due to an attraction between it and the organic pesticides of interest.