Poisoned landscapes: The epidemiology of environmental lead exposure in Massachusetts children 1990-1991

Adrian J. Bailey, James D. Sargent, David C. Goodman, Jean Freeman, Mary Jean Brown

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

This research models the geographic variation in lead poisoning among children living in Massachusetts between 1990 and 1991. Elevated levels of blood lead, which reduce educational performance, arise because children are exposed to unnaturally concentrated sources of lead in the built environment. A Poisson regression model indicates that a large number of children with lead poisoning may be detected in towns with a high proportion of older housing, female headed households, African-Americans, and an industrial heritage. Our results suggest links between the processes of urbanization and industrialization in Massachusetts and today's lead poisoned landscapes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)757-766
Number of pages10
JournalSocial Science and Medicine
Volume39
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1994
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Massachusetts
  • Poisson regression
  • community scale variation
  • industrial heritage
  • lead poisoning

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • History and Philosophy of Science

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