• The best answer is “Maybe”….high blood lead levels may increase blood pressure, but so can dietary and genetic factors.

• Recommendations:
  • See Your Doctor and discuss this issue if you have a high blood pressure. Let him know of your concerns. High blood prressure must be treated.
  • Maintain good nutrition (calcium, iron and vitamins) to help reduce lead uptake and increase lead elimination.

• Studies on laboratory animals show that very high amounts of lead exposure causes cancer
• Whether high amounts of lead exposure causes cancer in people remains an open question
• There are cancer studies in workers from lead smelters and battery plants who had high blood lead levels (averaging 60 to 80 ug/dL)
• Two studies found an association with cancer, and two studies did not.
• However, these studies are limited
  • Workers exposed to other chemicals
  • Cancer risk from smoking not accounted for
  • Details of exposure not always reported

• Blood Lead levels reflect current exposures and uptake (over the last 1- 3 months)
  • CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) level of concern in children is 10 ug/dL
  • OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) levels are 40 ug/dL for increased monitoring in workers, and 50 ug/dl for removal from workplace exposures.
• Bone Lead studies reflect exposures and uptake over several decades.
• A high bone lead level generally is associated with high blood levels.

For lead risks, this is possible, and you should discuss this with a doctor who knows you and your medical history.

Factors that could interact with lead exposures to cause health problems :

• Poor nutrition (Low calcium, iron or Vitamin C intake may increase lead absorption by the body).
• High salt or alcohol intake may contribute to high blood pressure
• Pica/Geophagia (eating clay from contaminated areas)

Take the fingerstick blood lead test today and discuss the results with your own doctor. Depending on your results, exposures and symptoms, he or she may want to recheck your blood lead level (in your veins).

This is particularly important if you have or are regularly being bothered by:

• Tremors
• Headaches
• Unexplained joint pain
• Sugar in your urine
• Attention deficit disorder

If your blood lead level is high, try to reduce your exposures to lead

• Vegetable gardening per DPH (Department of Public Health) Fact Sheet
• Avoid drinking or eating from lead crystal glasses, decanters, etc.
• Check lead in household water - run tap water for 30-60 seconds before drinking
• Use caution if doing home repairs, repainting…
• Avoid some hobbies: Target shooting, melting lead to make fishing sinkers, stained glass making, etc. can expose you to lead fumes

• Re-check your blood lead level after 1-2 months of avoiding lead intake.
• Diet: adequate calcium, iron and Vitamin C
• Certain things release stored lead from bones:
  • Osteoporosis (calcium loss from bone)
  • Overactive thyroid gland disease
  • Pregnancy and breast feeding

• There is a bone lead test that may be helpful.
• This is an x-ray research technique called “KXRF”, which measures levels in leg bones.
• This is experimental and not done in any hospital in Connecticut.

• Not necessarily. If your bone lead level is high, blood lead probably will be too.
• This technique will expose you to radiation, which may have harmful effects.
• This test should be done only if necessary.
• You should see your own doctor to discuss the pros and cons of seeking this test.

The closest medical centers where you can have your bone lead level tested are in NYC (at Mt Sinai Medical Center) and in Boston (at Harvard Medical School)

• What are the likely public health impacts from exposure to contamination?
• What further actions should be taken?

• Environmental Data
• Health Data
• Community Concerns

• Contact With Soil
• Eating, Breathing Dust, Skin Contact
• Activities Include:
  • Gardening, Other Yard Work
  • Children Playing in Soil
• NO Exposure From Drinking Water

We Use Accepted Science Methods And Health Protective Approaches

• How Much Chemical (Concentration)?
• How Does Contamination Enter a Person?
• How Long, How Many Times Does Exposure Occur?
• How Toxic Is the Chemical?

• Found in More Places, Higher Levels than Other Contaminants
• Children More Sensitive
  • Blood problems (anemia)
  • Reduced growth and development
  • Lower IQ
• Testing Blood Is Easy and Can Show Recent Exposure to Lead (from any source)
• Lead Exposure NOT Linked to Cancer at Exposure Levels in the Neighborhood

• Sample Results From 2001 and 2002 Show:
  • No Public Health Threat from Lead, Arsenic or PAHs
• Even Though No Health Threat, if Contamination is Above Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Standards, Cleanup Will Be Done.

Past Conditions (Before the Most Contaminated Yards Were Cleaned):

• Lead May Have Caused Increased Blood Lead in Children
• No Signs That Children in Neighborhood Have High Blood Lead NOW
• Health Survey Results Do Not Look Unusual
• Published Cancer Rates for Hamden Do Not Look Unusual

• It is a Good Idea to Reduce Exposure to Soil in Your Yard
  • We Don’t Know Where All the Contamination is Yet
  • Some Yards Have Contamination Above DEP Cleanup Standards BUT Below Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Immediate Cleanup Trigger Levels (for example, “Gray Area” Yards)
• Further Neighborhood Soil/GW Testing
  • Evaluation of Data by Department of Public Health
• Free Blood Lead Testing
• Quinnipiac Health District Community Survey in Larger Portion of Neighborhood