Lead poisoning more likely in immigrants

NEW YORK, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Immigrant children are five times as likely as U.S.-born children to suffer from lead poisoning in New York City, a government report found.

The study of children tested for lead poisoning in 2002, published online in the American Journal of Public Health, found children who had lived abroad within the previous six months were 11 times as likely as U.S.-born children to have lead poisoning.

Study co-author Jessica Leighton, New York City's deputy commissioner of environmental health, said the most affected immigrant children were from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico and Pakistan -- nations where lead may be less tightly regulated than in the United States.

"This study suggests that immigrant children are being exposed to lead in their home countries before they arrive in New York City," Leighton said in a statement.

"Some immigrant families may be bringing tainted products with them to New York City. We encourage all parents, especially parents who are recent immigrants, to be sure their children are tested for lead poisoning at ages 1 and 2, as required by law."