Evaluating non-housing related variables associated with childhood Pb exposure hotspots in Michigan
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Lead (Pb) exposure during childhood may contribute to lifelong damage and learning disabilities. Identification of neighborhood-level (defined as census tract) Pb exposure hotspots can help prevent future harm and has been the focus of previous studies. While Pb-based paint from old housing is known to a primary source of Pb exposure, models based on housing and demographic data, such as EPA’s EJSCREEN’s Pb Paint EJ Index, do not predict all known hotspots, as defined by existing blood Pb level (BLL) data. Our research expands on past publications by evaluating the importance of the other 10 EJSCREEN indices and socio-vulnerability factors on childhood elevated BLL rates in Michigan to explain other drivers of childhood Pb exposure hotspots.
Children’s elevated blood Pb level (EBLL) (≥5µg/dL) rates for the years 2014-16 were sourced at the census tract-level from a previous Michigan-based study. Data capturing socioeconomic measures (CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index [SVI] 2016) and environmental justice (EJ) indices (EPA’s EJSCREEN 2017) were linked by census tract.
Linear regression of census tract EBLL rates on individual EJSCREEN indices were significant (p<0.001) for all indices except for the Cumulative Direct Discharge Pollution Index. Of these, the Pb Paint Index was most predictive (R2=0.26). Backwards stepwise regression of the multivariate model (R2=0.29) with 11 EJ indices resulted in 6 indices retained in the model. These findings suggest a cumulative impact of EJ factors on childhood Pb exposure rates.