Questions and Answers

1. What is this exposure investigation (EI)?

An exposure investigation is the collection and analysis of samples to determine whether people have been exposed to hazardous substances.

2. Why are you doing an exposure investigation?

ATSDR and our partners did this exposure investigation to determine blood lead levels in the community and environmental lead levels in and around the homes of participants. This investigation will help to better understand how environmental contamination may impact blood lead levels in your community.

3. What are the health effects of lead?

This is no safe blood lead level in children. If a woman has high levels of lead in their blood or lead stored in their bones, it can be harmful to the developing baby during pregnancy. Lead is most harmful to children, infants, and unborn babies. Harmful effects may include damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, decreased hearing, and attention, learning, and behavioral problems.

4. What are the benefits to me or my child for having the tests done?

Parents or guardians and women of childbearing age will:

Know the amount of lead in their child’s or their blood
Know if they have more lead in their body than most children or adults in their community and the United States
Know if there is lead in their yard, home, and/or water
Receive information to share with their doctor for consultation and follow up
Receive information to help identify and remove sources of lead in their environment

5. What are the risks to me or my child for having the tests done?

Participants may feel a sting or pinch in their arm when the blood is drawn
Sometimes a bruise or small blood clot can occur where the blood is taken
Participants may feel lightheaded for a short time
Rarely an infection could develop as a result of the puncture through the skin

6. Who is ATSDR and who is ATSDR working with on this investigation?

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, ATSDR, is a federal public health agency. Our mission is to protect communities from harmful health effects related to exposure to natural and man-made hazardous substances. We work with communities, environmental groups, and local, state, and other federal agencies to protect public health.

For this EI, ATSDR is working with the:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS)
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)
Mid America Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (MAPEHSU)
Joplin City Health Department
Newton County Health Department
Jasper County Health Department

7. Who is EPA?

EPA is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA’s Superfund Program tested for lead in soil from participants’ yards and water from participants’ private wells.

8. Who is MDHSS?

MDHSS is the state health department. MDHSS stands for Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

MDHSS tested for lead in household dust from participants’ homes, paint inside and outside participant’s homes, and water from participants’ homes using a public water supply.

9. Who is MAPEHSU?

MAPEHSU stands for the Mid America Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit. Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units or PEHSUs are a national network of experts in the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of health issues that arise from environmental exposures for children and women of childbearing age.

Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City manages the Mid America PEHSU that serves Missouri. The PEHSU assisted ATSDR as we worked to involve and educate local health care providers and develop action plans for the case management of participants.

10. Are the local health departments involved?

Yes. ATSDR worked with the Joplin City Health Department, the Newton County Health Department, and the Jasper County Health Department. ATSDR and the local public health partners worked together to support participants. Local health departments are responsible for conducting case management for participants with blood lead levels above most other children.