Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)
Academic Term
Summer 2015
Document Type
Project
Course Number
NURS 5330
Course Name
Advanced Pathophysiology
Professor’s Name
John D. Chovan, James R. Cacchillo
Keywords
Wyandot County, Ohio, Patient Education
Subject Categories
Environmental Public Health | Medical Pathology | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing
Abstract
Environmental lead exposure is a pertinent public health risk that affects our rural population in Wyandot County, Ohio. Children exposed to lead hazards through toys, home remodeling and contaminated soil and water are at a greater risk for developing neurological, cognitive and behavioral issues than are children not exposed to lead (Cecil et al., 2011). Wyandot County parents are not adequately educated on the risks and consequences of elevated blood lead levels in their children. As a child advocate and director of the Women, Infant and Children program for Wyandot County there is an obligation to educate and inform parents of the risk for cognitive delay and behavioral issues related to elevated blood lead levels in their children. Education on decreasing lead exposure, proper nutrition to decrease the absorption of lead, testing to identify their child’s lead level and understanding of the long term risks of lead exposure are priority topics of counseling for parents. Protecting children from exposure to lead is important to lifelong good health. No safe blood lead level in children has been identified and even low levels of lead in the blood have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention and academic achievement. Effects of lead exposure cannot be corrected ("Lead," 2015, p. 1).
Recommended Citation
Bianchi, Melissa, "Neurological, Nutritional and Cognitive Effects of Environmental Lead Exposure in Infants and Children" (2015). Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN). 111.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_msn/111