New Mexico

The State of New Mexico received $381,121 through cooperative agreement EH21-2102 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in FY 2022. The funds address childhood lead poisoning prevention and surveillance programmatic activities being conducted from September 30, 2022 to September 29, 2023.

The strategies focus on

  • Ensuring blood lead testing and reporting
  • Enhancing blood lead surveillance
  • Improving linkages to recommended services

To learn more about these efforts in New Mexico, contact the program below.

New Mexico Department of Health
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
1190 S St. Francis Drive # S1250
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: 505-476-1734

Success Story 2023

Mill Tailings Exposure in San Antonio, New Mexico

Challenge

A pediatrician in Socorro, New Mexico contacted the New Mexico Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (NM CLPPP) in May 2022 to report that two brothers, ages 3- and 2 years old, had blood lead levels (BLLs) of 16.8 and 28.4 µg/dL, respectively, and sought help to identify the source of exposure.

Intervention

In May 2022, the NM CLPPP health educator (HE) immediately spoke with the children’s mother to identify potential sources of lead exposure. No obvious sources were identified. The HE followed up by sending the children’s mother health education materials about sources of lead exposure.

An investigation by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) found that the family’s trailer was near an abandoned mine and mill. In June 2022, the NMED notified the HE that there were concerns that mine tailings were used on the driveway and concentrated under the family’s trailer. XRF readings showed high lead concentrations in the children’s play area. In addition to lead, elevated arsenic, barium, and mercury were detected on the property. The family moved, and the landlord will not lease the property until it is remediated. The HE updated the children’s healthcare provider and discussed the need to retest the children within the next month.

In July 2022, the HE shared this information with the community of San Antonio and surrounding areas via the Health Action Network. NM CLPPP shared health education materials with area residents to make them aware of the risks and to encourage testing their children for lead. Information was also released and shared in the New Mexico Department of Health news.

Impact

The child with the higher BLL was retested in September 2022, and the BLL dropped from 28.4 µg/dL to 10.7 µg/dL. The other child was retested in December 2022, and the BLL dropped from 16.8 µg/dL to 4.1 µg/dL.

The HE continues to follow up with the children’s healthcare provider and plans on re-testing both boys until their levels fall below 3.5 µg/dL. The provider had been asking parents in that community to get their children tested and reports an increase in the number of patients who are interested in blood lead testing. At this time, data for the increase in testing are not available.

Funding for this work was made possible in part by 1 NUE2EH001429-01-00 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the CDC; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Success Story 2021

Improving Access to Lead Poisoning Prevention for Newly Arrived Refugees in New Mexico

Challenge

The New Mexico Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (NM CLPPP) was aware of gaps in follow-up blood lead testing for children who had elevated blood lead levels (BLL) on their arrival to the United States. Therefore, NM CLPPP sought to improve lead-related education for families, healthcare providers, and groups providing services to newly arriving refugees.

Intervention

NM CLPPP collaborated with the Lutheran Family Services’ Refugee and Asylee program, University of New Mexico (UNM) Young Children’s Clinic, UNM Northeast Heights clinic, and the College of Population Health at UNM to conduct the following activities:

  • NM CLPPP and the Lutheran Family Services’ Refugee and Asylee program translated health education materials into specific languages to distribute to refugees.
  • NM CLPPP conducted home visits with staff members from the Lutheran Family Services’ Refugee and Asylee program for families with children who had elevated BLLs.
  • NM CLPPP performed outreach and gave targeted messages to provider groups and organizations about blood lead testing guidelines. NM CLPPP also distributed lead poisoning prevention materials and called providers with reminders to retest children with elevated BLLs.
  • UNM created and delivered a lead poisoning prevention presentation to newly arrived families.
Impact

Although the number of incoming refugees decreased from over 400 refugees in 2016 to approximately 50 refugees per year in 2017 and 2018, BLL testing among refugees in the state held steady at 700–800 tests per year from 2016 through 2018. Additionally, NM CLPPP was able to conduct more follow-up tests for children with BLLs of 5 micrograms per deciliter or higher.

Funding for this work was made possible in part by NUE1EH001273 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.