Households in one part of the UK have been sent letters in the post to ask them to take part in a study on possible lead poisoning.
As many as 150,000 households in Leeds are being sent letters to ask them to take part in an investigation into exposure to lead.
The study, launched by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), is screening children for lead exposure and ‘could transform how the UK monitors and responds to lead exposure in children’.
Research participants will use finger-prick blood sampling kits at home alongside providing soil and house dust samples and survey data to help understand possible sources of exposure.
The study aims to build a ‘cohort’ of 500 participants with children aged between one and 6 years old.
Exposure to lead can be particularly harmful to children. Possible dangers include damage to the nervous system, delayed growth and hearing loss, among many other adverse and long-term health effects, as well as implications for social, economic, educational and social well-being, the UKHSA said.
Professor Jane Entwistle, project lead and Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Science Environment at Northumbria University, said: “There have been regulatory interventions that have successfully reduced the levels of lead in petrol, paint, plumbing, drinking glasses, kitchen items and toys.
“However, lead pollution remains common in the environment, being found in soil, water, dust, food and air and many children are therefore still affected by exposure.
“Pregnant women, unborn babies and children are especially vulnerable, and even low levels of exposure can reduce a child’s attention span, diminish their school success and increase aggressive behaviour.”
Amongst cases currently reported to UKHSA’s lead exposure in children surveillance system (LEICSS), those most affected are young males aged one to 4 years old, more commonly living in deprived areas and in older housing, with the main sources of exposure including contaminated soil and paint.
Children with learning or developmental difficulties are at higher risk of exposure to lead; 82% of reported cases under investigation displayed pica behaviour (the persistent eating of non-food items) and 69% experienced learning difficulties.
Leeds was selected as the pilot location for the study as UKHSA data shows that Yorkshire and Humber has reported the most cases of childhood lead poisoning over the past decade. This higher detection rate is attributed to increased testing of children in the area as a result of increased local awareness of the dangers of lead poisoning.
Researchers believe similar numbers of cases likely exist in other areas of the UK, but the lack of awareness means fewer children are being tested.
Dr Carys Lippiatt, Consultant Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “At the moment, if we need to test a child for lead exposure, they have to come into a clinic for a venous blood sample test. This takes time for the family and healthcare professional and is often distressing for the child. However, since COVID-19, home testing has become more acceptable.
“This new technique collects an accurately measured blood spot from a finger prick, similar to that used by diabetic children to test blood glucose, allowing samples to be collected in the relaxed environment of the home without a healthcare professional.”
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