New Jersey

Lead burden can cause adverse effects on maternal health and infants. In New Jersey, pregnant women are not routinely screened for elevated blood lead levels (BLLs).

The New Jersey Department of Health, in collaboration with Monmouth County Health Department and Central Jersey Visiting Nurses Association, conducted a pilot study to screen pregnant women for elevated BLLs to assess lead burden in pregnant women. The pilot study was conducted on women receiving prenatal care from the Central Jersey Visiting Nurses Association during January–June 2018. At their first prenatal visit, 64 women received screening for elevated BLLs. The Central Jersey Visiting Nurses Association distributed educational material for reducing lead exposure to all pregnant women. If an elevated BLL, defined as any blood lead level greater than or equal to 5 µg/dL, was detected, staff members also provided appropriate case management based on CDC guidelines.

The study identified six women with elevated BLLs. One woman received chelation because her BLL was 94 micrograms per deciliter. Her child received an immediate blood lead screen during delivery and was chelated post-delivery.

Following the pilot study, the New Jersey Department of Health conducted a similar study in collaboration with New Jersey State Laboratories in Newark – a city with an extremely high lead burden due to legacy lead from paint factories, lead smelting plants, and old housing poor condition, and other sources. Through this study, pregnant women receiving prenatal care at University Hospital in Newark were provided blood lead screening and lead exposure reduction education and nurse case management if they had elevated blood lead levels. Hospital staff also conducted cord blood testing for all participants immediately after birth. If the child had an elevated blood lead level, the New Jersey Department of Health conducted an environmental intervention at the primary home.