South Middlesex Times

Doctors have recognized the risks associated with lead exposure during pregnancy, yet universal screening remains unmandated in New Jersey and across the United States. In 2019, Rutgers Health initiated a program at University Hospital in Newark to screen for lead and heavy metals, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This effort is in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Health.

Onajovwe Fofah, professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), leads this initiative. Diane Calello, professor of emergency medicine at NJMS and executive director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center, provides treatment guidance if exposure is detected.

Fofah aims to present findings to the American Academy of Pediatrics to advocate for earlier lead screenings, proposing that they occur at birth rather than at nine months. "The clinical evidence suggests that expectant mothers exposed to lead may experience a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications," said Fofah.

Data from researchers like Xiaobin Wang support this initiative by highlighting disparities in preterm birth rates among minority groups. Fofah notes that Newark faces significant health disparities which this program seeks to address through early detection and intervention.

The current standard-of-care practice involves screening pregnant women for lead at prenatal care onset and delivery using umbilical cord blood. However, some cases are not diagnosed until later infancy. "We have screened more than 17,000 samples...and discovered about 14%...are babies with elevated lead levels," added Fofah.

Diane Calello explained that "lead is a developmental neurotoxin" with potential impacts on children's development. Symptoms in adults can be vague but include constipation and abdominal pain; severe cases may involve lethargy or decreased coordination.

Treatment options include chelation therapy and dietary supplements like calcium and iron. The most crucial step is removing the source of exposure. Calello emphasized evaluating home environments as part of their preventive measures against lead poisoning.

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