Tina Lupone Instructor of Public Health Preventive Medicine

Tina Lupone Instructor of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, SUNY Upstate “Lead Exposure in Newly Resettled Pediatric Refugees in Syracuse, NY”

Lead Exposure in Newly Resettled Pediatric Refugees in Syracuse, NY Erie Onondaga https: //www. politifact. com/new-york/statements/2017/mar/04/seanryan/heres-where-refugees-settled-new-york-2016/ https: //www. businessinsider. com/lead-health-child-flint-michiganbody-pollution-water-2016 -1

Lead Exposure in Newly Resettled Pediatric Refugees in Syracuse, NY Lead Screening Recommendations & Guidelines All Children AAP: BLL 9 -12 m and 24 m Risk factor assessment up to 6 years Refugee Children NYS & CDC: BLL upon arrival in US Screening for children and repeat 3 -6 months post 6 m – 16 years Erie resettlement https: //www. politifact. com/new-york/statements/2017/mar/04/seanryan/heres-where-refugees-settled-new-york-2016/ https: //www. businessinsider. com/lead-health-child-flint-michiganbody-pollution-water-2016 -1

Lead Exposure in Newly Resettled Pediatric Refugees in Syracuse, NY • Retrospective chart review of all pediatric refugee patients aged 0 -16 years attending UHCC between May 2012 and June 2017 • • BLL, CBC, and demographics extracted from intake evaluation and follow up 3 -6 months post resettlement Elevated / Clinically Significant = ≥ 5. 0 µg/d. L BLL @ Arrival BLL @ Follow-Up 0 -4. 9 µg/d. L 585 (83. 0%) 0 -4. 9 µg/d. L 635 (90. 1%) 5. 0 -9. 9 µg/d. L 108 (15. 3%) 5. 0 -9. 9 µg/d. L 64 (9. 1%) ≥ 10. 0 µg/d. L 12 (1. 7%) ≥ 10. 0 µg/d. L 6 (0. 9%) • 51. 2% female, mean age 8. 0 years, spending on average 6. 2 years in country of refuge prior to resettlement in US • 16% anemic per WHO guidelines upon arrival

Lead Exposure in Newly Resettled Pediatric Refugees in Syracuse, NY Elevated BLL upon Arrival & F/U = 7% Normal BLL upon arrival with elevated BLLs at follow-up = 3% (While not all clinically significant) 30% increased between arrival and follow-up Anemia played a role in risk post resettlement Refugee children are at risk for arriving with lead exposure from their prior country of refuge and that risk does not subside after resettlement in Onondaga County.