A new study that will screen children for lead exposure has
launched in Leeds today.
The Elevated Childhood Lead
Interagency Prevalence Study (ECLIPS),
which brings together experts in environmental science, health,
epidemiology and economics, has obtained funding from UK Research
and Innovation (UKRI) and will use an
innovative home-testing approach that 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.
Starting today, letters will be sent to around 150,000 households
in Leeds inviting them to take part in the study. The aim is to
build an initial research cohort of 500 participants with
children aged one to 6.
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.
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.
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.
Debapriya Mondal, Principal Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:
There is no safe level of lead exposure, and while less common
today, we can still be exposed in our everyday lives and
crucially these serious health impacts are preventable.
Detection in children often relies on blood tests ordered by
physicians only when there is a high clinical suspicion of lead
poisoning, meaning that cases with no obvious symptoms are
missed.
This study, even though only carried out in one area, will tell
us if this screening method can be widely used to determine the
prevalence levels across the United Kingdom.
The ECLIPS
study originated from UKHSA's Lead Exposure, Public Health
Intervention and Surveillance Group (LEPHIS).
Leeds was selected as the pilot location for this study as data
monitored by the UK Health Security Agency 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.
If successful, the methods developed could be used across the UK
as part of a national screening programme, as well as adapted to
test for other pollutants and diseases. The approach has the
potential to revolutionise blood lead sample collection, both for
national screening studies and for continual regular monitoring
where clinically relevant.
