Lead in Hispanic Children

June 14, 2001

Adolfo Mata posted an article titled " Risk for lead levels in kids higher in

NCW " which was written on 6-6-01by Partridge of The Wenatchee World in

WA State. I have two concerns regarding the state study referred to.

1) The article states " Only about 3 percent of the children in the state have

ever been tested for lead in their blood. " The statistical estimates referred

to in the report are flawed. Nearly all children that were tested for blood

lead levels in the DOH study received their health care at migrant health

facilities. The overwhelming majority of these children are Hispanics. Very

few Anglo kids were tested, so how can the DOH say that Hispanics are at higher

risk when they don't have a statistically significant number of Anglos in their

sample?

2) The DOH Lead Surveillance Program undertook its lead study with preconceived

notions. Officials only cited two probable sources of exposure: lead-based

paint and soil contaminated by years of spraying with lead arsenate for codling

moth. Despite clear evidence showing that home remedies are a source of lead

in children, the state study chose to ignore it. Home remedies were not

mentioned in their report. This is ironic, given the fact that the DOH's

website has two references to this problem.

Please refer to the WA State Dept. of Health's news release from June 15, 2000

which warns about dangerous Mexican folk remedies. The news release can be

located at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/publicat/2000%5Fnews/00%2D59.html

The DOH website also contains fact sheets in both English and Spanish regarding

lead contained in home remedies. The Spanish version is at:

http://www.doh.wa.gov/Topics/HomeRemedies.Span.pdf

Let's not perpetuate unscientific information. It's unfortunate when my own

state's Dept. of Health has chosen to ignore the facts.

Sincerely,

J. Kunkel RN, MS, CS

Parent-Child Health

Chelan- Health District

200 Valley Mall Parkway

East Wenatchee, WA 98802-5321

desk (509) 886-6431

fax (509) 886-6436

June 14, 2001

I don't think that anyone would disagree that we have a problem with lead

exposure among children, particularly poor Hispanic kids such as the

children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers and it not all related to

Mexican home remedies. I think you missed the point of me posting the

article on the list serv.

-----Original Message-----

From: Kunkel [mailto:kunkelp@...]

Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 4:01 PM

Subject: [ ] Lead in Hispanic Children

Adolfo Mata posted an article titled " Risk for lead levels in kids higher in

NCW " which was written on 6-6-01by Partridge of The Wenatchee World

in WA State. I have two concerns regarding the state study referred to.

1) The article states " Only about 3 percent of the children in the state

have ever been tested for lead in their blood. " The statistical estimates

referred to in the report are flawed. Nearly all children that were tested

for blood lead levels in the DOH study received their health care at migrant

health facilities. The overwhelming majority of these children are

Hispanics. Very few Anglo kids were tested, so how can the DOH say that

Hispanics are at higher risk when they don't have a statistically

significant number of Anglos in their sample?

2) The DOH Lead Surveillance Program undertook its lead study with

preconceived notions. Officials only cited two probable sources of

exposure: lead-based paint and soil contaminated by years of spraying with

lead arsenate for codling moth. Despite clear evidence showing that home

remedies are a source of lead in children, the state study chose to ignore

it. Home remedies were not mentioned in their report. This is ironic,

given the fact that the DOH's website has two references to this problem.

Please refer to the WA State Dept. of Health's news release from June 15,

2000 which warns about dangerous Mexican folk remedies. The news release

can be located at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/publicat/2000%5Fnews/00%2D59.html

The DOH website also contains fact sheets in both English and Spanish

regarding lead contained in home remedies. The Spanish version is at:

http://www.doh.wa.gov/Topics/HomeRemedies.Span.pdf

Let's not perpetuate unscientific information. It's unfortunate when my own

state's Dept. of Health has chosen to ignore the facts.

Sincerely,

J. Kunkel RN, MS, CS

Parent-Child Health

Chelan- Health District

200 Valley Mall Parkway

East Wenatchee, WA 98802-5321

desk (509) 886-6431

fax (509) 886-6436

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June 14, 2001

Hola Adolfo,

This has nothing to do with your e-mail, but wanted to follow up on the

person requesting materials on alcohol prevention in Spanish. I asked " the

source " in Mexico (he was a member of our planning committee) there, and he

gets it materials from the Clearinghouse. Our Clearinghouse. Could you pass

this info. to her ?

We had very successful planning meetings with our Mexican colleagues.

I hope all is well with you.

Cuando tengas un minuto libre, llamame.

Ana Anders, LICSW

Senior Advisor on Special Populations

National Institute on Drug Abuse

National Institutes of Health

6001 Executive Blvd.

Bethesda, MD 20892

Ph. 301-443-0441

Ph. 301-435-0919 (direct)

Fax 301-480-8179

E-Mail aa96o@...

-----Original Message-----

From: Mata, Adolfo (HRSA)

Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 4:32 PM

' '

Subject: RE: [ ] Lead in Hispanic Children