| Lead poisoning, defined by the Centers for Disease Control as equal-to or greater-than ten micrograms per deciliter of blood, afflicts children in Michigan at a higher rate than the national average. The primary, though not exclusive, source of exposure is lead-based paint in households that dates to before the 1978 ban on this product. Since lead exposure causes permanent neural damage and is difficult to extract from the body, primary prevention by removing the hazards is the only solution to this problem. This thesis uses point-based clustering and regression techniques to examine the spatial patterns and characteristics of childhood blood lead levels in Michigan. The Michigan Lead Database results of blood lead tests from 1998 to 2005 are employed for this objective. Only children insured by Medicaid, a majority of the database and typically at higher risk of lead poisoning, are included in this thesis. Results indicate that the inner city children in Michigan suffer the greatest from lead exposure. Regression analysis reveals that older housing within an area is the best predictor of mean blood lead levels. Spatial techniques used in this thesis have the potential to greatly enhance primary prevention efforts. |
