The program used a mobile education and
In FY 2000, about 30 graduate and
blood-testing unit that visited Head Start centers
undergraduate students were being
and kindergartens in Ottawa County's seven
school districts during the 19992000 school
trained in environmental health and
year. The program screened 127 children
toxicology research at universities
enrolled in Head Start and 122 kindergarten
children. In addition, 600 blood level screenings
participating in ATSDR's
of children and pregnant women were per-
Environmental Health and
formed through the county's Women, Infants,
Toxicology Research Program with
and Children (WIC) clinics. A database was
created to track blood lead levels and interven-
the Minority Health Professions
tions and to provide information to EPA for
Foundation.
pathway analysis and, when necessary, cleanup.
Additionally, parents of children identified with
elevated blood lead levels received referrals and
site. The site is inside Oklahoma's portion of the
educational materials. Fifty children had blood
Pitcher Field mining region, an area that has had
lead levels that were above the level of health
extensive lead and zinc mining. Tar Creek has
concern, 10 micrograms per deciliter; these
children are being rechecked every 3 months.
September 1983. Children who live or play near
mine tailings piles may ingest or inhale lead-
contaminated dust. These piles have also been
used by riders of off-road vehicles, and houses
have been built on the tailings.
The prevention program has three goals. The
first goal is to develop community-relevant
health education and outreach strategies that
will update and inform Ottawa County residents
regarding the lead poisoning problem in the Tar
Creek Superfund site and surrounding areas.
The second goal is to continually monitor blood
lead levels in Ottawa County children through
the creation of a multipurpose database that
facilitates tracking, information sharing, and the
measurement of community impact. The third
goal is to determine the incidence of Ottawa
County children with learning disabilities from
visual and/or cognitive deficits that represent
Tar Creek
barriers to education.
52 chapter 4
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