What: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, conducted a targeted blood screening program for children under the age of six attending selected schools around Anniston. ATSDR is releasing the final report, which summarizes results of the screening program.

Why: ATSDR conducted the program April-May, 2001, in response to community concerns about possible elevations in blood lead levels among the children in west Anniston. This short-term program was intended to supplement an existing program which is offered by the Calhoun County Health Department and local pediatricians. The county health department's on-going lead screening program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through the Alabama Department of Public Health, as part of a national Childhood Lead Prevention Program.

How: Through the school system and community centers, ATSDR screened 410 children. A capillary blood sample was taken from each child using the finger stick method. A second round of testing was offered for children whose initial test indicated elevated levels of lead in their blood. The second test was done by taking blood from a vein, a method which can provide a more precise measurement of blood lead level.

What We Found: Four children had blood lead levels greater than 10.0 micrograms per deciliter (g/dL). Their results, in g/dL, were: 16.0, 13.7, 12.4, and 10.4. At the time the screening was conducted, these children were six, five, five, and three years of age, respectively. Three of these children were retested and two were confirmed elevated (the highest was 13.0 g/dL).

Results of this project do not provide a complete picture of blood lead levels in Anniston. Less than 1 percent of the children screened by ATSDR had a blood lead level higher than the CDC guidelines of 10.0 g/dL. However, approximately 25% of the children had a blood lead level 5.0 g/dL. These findings provide evidence that children are being exposed to lead. Although risks at these low levels are unclear, this evidence points to the need for continued screening and education for exposure prevention.

ATSDR would like to recognize the Community Against Pollution (CAP) organization, which played a major role in community outreach and education throughout this process.

Where Can You See the Report: Copies of the report are available at the following repositories:

For More Information: Community members seeking information about the lead screening program should contact ATSDR Community Involvement Specialist Perstephanie Thompson, toll free, at 1-888-42-ATSDR (1-888-422-8737). Callers should refer to the "Anniston, Alabama site." For more information about Lead and health effects related to exposure, please visit the ATSDR Web site, at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov, and click on the ToxFAQs.