DOCSLIB.ORG

Pediatric Lead Poisoning and the Built Environment In

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Pediatric Lead Poisoning and the Built Environment In PEDIATRIC LEAD POISONING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 2000-2013 A DISSERTATION IN Economics and Social Science Presented to the Faculty of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by NEAL J. WILSON B.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2005 M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2014 Kansas City, Missouri 2021 ©2021 NEAL JAMES WILSON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PEDIATRIC LEAD POISONING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 2000-2013 Neal James Wilson, Candidate for Doctor of Philosophy Degree University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2021 ABSTRACT This study examines relationships between pediatric lead poisoning and the built environment. Focusing on Kansas City, Missouri between the years 2000 and 2013 this dissertation informs policy options and identifies underexplored lines of inquiry related to pediatric lead poisoning. The dissertation extends the social surplus approach to economic modeling into a discussion of the production of pediatric lead poisoning. This dissertation grounds disparities in pediatric lead poisoning in an interdisciplinary context integrating biology, health effects, exposure pathways, social history, and economic theory into a research agenda. The original contribution of this dissertation is comprised of three interconnected parts: 1) the identification and assembly of an expansive data library for observing lead in the built environment, 2) the development of a warranted geocoding process to match 14 years of pediatric blood lead data to a parcel‐level geography which is inconsistent from year to year, 3) and exploratory empirical investigation of the assembled and associated geocoded data. Using a cross section of observational data, I estimate a series of ordinary least squares multiple regression models relating child, housing, and proximity focused explanatory variables to iii changes in the blood lead levels in children. The dissertation concludes with a consideration of public policies aimed at preventing pediatric lead poisoning and possible extensions of the assembled data. iv APPROVAL PAGE The faculty listed below, appointed by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies have examined a dissertation titled “Childhood Lead Poisoning and The Built Environment in Kansas City, Missouri 2000-2013,” presented by Neal J. Wilson, a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree and certify that in their opinion it is worthy of acceptance. Supervisory Committee Peter Eaton, Ph.D., Committee Chair Department of Economics Doug Bowles, Ph.D. Social Science Consortium Mathew Forstater, Ph.D. Department of Economics Jacob A. Wagner, Ph.D. Department of Architecture, Urban Planning, and Design James Sturgeon, Ph.D. Department of Economics v CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. iii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ x LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ........................................................................................ xii ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................... xiv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... xvi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 2. CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING IN AN ECONOMIC CONTEXT ................ 7 A Reading of Neoclassical Health Literature ................................................... 9 Towards Another Health Economics ............................................................... 21 Substantive Relationships, A Heterodox Social Surplus Approach, Cumulative Causation ................................................................................. 23 Ethical and Pecuniary Considerations ........................................................ 32 Contextual Overview ....................................................................................... 38 3. THE NATURE OF LEAD'S TOXICITY AND A REVIEW OF ITS EFFECTS 41 Geology, Human Action, Biology ................................................................... 41 How Lead Enters the Body ........................................................................ 44 Systemic Damage Once in the Body .......................................................... 46 Lead Exposure as a Particular Problem for Children ................................. 50 Review of Lead Poisoning and its Latent Effects ............................................ 52 Early Medical Observations........................................................................ 54 vi Modern Research Design ............................................................................ 57 A Turn Toward Social Effects .................................................................... 63 A Summing up ................................................................................................. 65 4. A SOCIAL HISTORY OF LEAD POISONING.................................................... 67 Lead Paint ....................................................................................................... 71 Gasoline, Ethyl ................................................................................................ 75 Awareness of Problems, Regulation of Products ............................................ 78 Unequal Exposure ............................................................................................ 80 Deeper Understandings and Remediation Strategies ....................................... 83 Summing Up: Lead Poisoning as Social Phenomena ...................................... 86 5. GIS, EPIDEMIOLOGY, MODELING RISK FACTORS ..................................... 88 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) ........................................................... 90 Epidemiology and Risk Factor Modeling ........................................................ 96 Child Focused Variables ............................................................................. 97 Housing Focused Variables ........................................................................ 105 Geography Variables .................................................................................. 115 Recapitulation of Modeling Decisions ............................................................. 133 6. DATA, GEOCODING, ASSEMBLY ................................................................... 135 Relationships, Organizations, Resources ......................................................... 136 Data Descriptions, Geocoding, Processing and Association ........................... 142 Neighborhood Housing Conditions Survey ................................................ 142 Geocoding Process ...................................................................................... 155 vii Blood Lead Data ......................................................................................... 170 Additional Explanatory Data ...................................................................... 194 Assembly Process, Filtration, New Variable Construction .............................. 206 7. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS .................................................................................. 211 Model Specification ......................................................................................... 213 Child Focused Variables ............................................................................. 215 Housing Focused Variables ........................................................................ 216 Geographic Variables ................................................................................. 220 Interpreting the Omnibus Model ...................................................................... 225 Child Focused Variables, Nonlinear and Dichotomous ............................. 225 Dichotomous Geography Variables ............................................................ 228 Dichotomous and Interacted Housing Focused Variables .......................... 229 Understanding the Model Through Restriction of Coefficients ....................... 235 Restricting Child and Proximity Variables ................................................. 235 Restricting Housing Focused Variables ...................................................... 239 8. POLICY DISCUSSION.......................................................................................... 245 Future Modeling, Data Acquisition, and Lines of Inquiry............................... 246 Policy Implications of Statistical Research....................................................... 249 Policy Implications of Research Agenda.......................................................... 252 Appendix A. SCHEMAS OF SOURCES AND BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF PEDIATRIC LEAD POISONING ......................................................................... 257 viii B. BRAINSTORMING RISK FACTORS FOR LEAD POISONING ...................... 261 C. NHCS HOUSING CONDITION SURVEY RATINGS GUIDE SUMMARY .... 264 D. GEOCODING SCHEMA ...................................................................................... 272 E. COMMUNITY DISTRICT AND NEIGHBORHOOD GEOGRAPHIES ............ 274 F. DATA ASSEMBLY SCHEMATIC ...................................................................... 284 G. COMPLETE DATA DICTIONARY
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Health Concerns of Heavy Metals (Pb; Cd; Hg) and Metalloids (As)
    Health concerns of the heavy metals and metalloids Chris Cooksey • Toxicity - acute and chronic • Arsenic • Mercury • Lead • Cadmium Toxicity - acute and chronic Acute - LD50 Trevan, J. W., 'The error of determination of toxicity', Proc. Royal Soc., 1927, 101B, 483-514 LD50 (rat, oral) mg/kg CdS 7080 NaCl 3000 As 763 HgCl 210 NaF 52 Tl2SO4 16 NaCN 6.4 HgCl2 1 Hodge and Sterner Scale (1943) Toxicity Commonly used term LD50 (rat, oral) Rating 1 Extremely Toxic <=1 2 Highly Toxic 1 - 50 3 Moderately Toxic 50 - 500 4 Slightly Toxic 500 - 5000 5 Practically Non-toxic 5000 - 15000 6 Relatively Harmless >15000 GHS - CLP LD50 Category <=5 1 Danger 5 - 50 2 Danger 50 - 300 3 Danger 300 - 2000 4 Warning Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling and Packaging of Chemicals CLP-Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 Toxicity - acute and chronic Chronic The long-term effect of sub-lethal exposure • Toxicity - acute and chronic • Arsenic • Mercury • Lead • Cadmium Arsenic • Pesticide o Inheritance powder • Taxidermy • Herbicide o Agent Blue • Pigments • Therapeutic uses Inorganic arsenic poisoning kills by allosteric inhibition of essential metabolic enzymes, leading to death from multi- system organ failure. Arsenicosis - chronic arsenic poisoning. Arsenic LD50 rat oral mg/kg 10000 1000 LD50 100 10 1 Arsine Arsenic acid Trimethylarsine Emerald green ArsenicArsenious trisulfide oxideSodium arsenite MethanearsonicDimethylarsinic acid acid Arsenic poisoning by volatile arsenic compounds from mouldy wall paper in damp rooms • Gmelin (1839) toxic mould gas • Selmi (1874) AsH3 • Basedow (1846) cacodyl oxide • Gosio (1893) alkyl arsine • Biginelli (1893) Et2AsH • Klason (1914) Et2AsO • Challenger (1933) Me3As • McBride & Wolfe (1971) Me2AsH or is it really true ? William R.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Group
    Historical Group NEWSLETTER and SUMMARY OF PAPERS No. 61 Winter 2012 Registered Charity No. 207890 COMMITTEE Chairman: Prof A T Dronsfield, School of Education, | Prof J Betteridge (Twickenham, Middlesex) Health and Sciences, University of Derby, | Dr N G Coley (Open University) Derby, DE22 1GB [e-mail [email protected]] | Dr C J Cooksey (Watford, Hertfordshire) Secretary: | Prof E Homburg (University of Maastricht) Prof W P Griffith, Department of Chemistry, | Prof F James (Royal Institution) Imperial College, South Kensington, London, | Dr D Leaback (Biolink Technology) SW7 2AZ [e-mail [email protected]] | Dr P J T Morris (Science Museum) Treasurer; Membership Secretary: | Prof. J. W. Nicholson (University of Greenwich) Dr J A Hudson, Graythwaite, Loweswater, | Mr P N Reed (Steensbridge, Herefordshire) Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0SU | Dr V Quirke (Oxford Brookes University) [e-mail [email protected]] | Dr S Robinson (Ham, Surrey) Newsletter Editor: | Prof. H. Rzepa (Imperial College) Dr A Simmons, Epsom Lodge, | Dr. A Sella (University College) La Grande Route de St Jean,St John, Jersey, JE3 4FL [e-mail [email protected]] Newsletter Production: Dr G P Moss, School of Biological and Chemical, Sciences Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS [e-mail [email protected]] http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/rschg/ http://www.rsc.org/membership/networking/interestgroups/historical/index.asp Contents From the Editor 2 RSC Historical Group News - Bill Griffith 3 Identification Query - W. H. Brock 4 Members’ Publications 5 NEWS AND UPDATES 6 USEFUL WEBSITES AND ADDRESSES 7 SHORT ESSAYS 9 The Copperas Works at Tankerton - Chris Cooksey 9 Mauveine - the final word? (3) - Chris Cooksey and H.
    [Show full text]
  • SULLIVAN-THESIS-2017.Pdf (2.553Mb)
    APPLICATIONS OF THE OSMIUM ISOTOPIC SYSTEM AND RHENIUM- PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN ORGANIC-RICH MUD ROCKS FROM THE EAGLE FORD FORMATION, TEXAS: A GEOCHEMISTRY AND REDOX STUDY A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences University of Houston ________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science _________________________________________ By Daniel Louis Sullivan May 2017 APPLICATIONS OF THE OSMIUM ISOTOPIC SYSTEM AND RHENIUM- PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN ORGANIC-RICH MUD ROCKS FROM THE EAGLE FORD FORMATION, TEXAS: A GEOCHEMISTRY AND REDOX STUDY _______________________________________ Dan Sullivan APPROVED: _______________________________________ Dr. Alan Brandon, Chairman _______________________________________ Dr. Qi Fu _______________________________________ Dr. Steven Bergman _______________________________________ Dean, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics ii “True scientific discovery renders the brain incapable at such moments of shouting vigorously to the world ‘Look at what I’ve done! Now I will reap the benefits of recognition and wealth.’ Instead such discovery instinctively forces the brain to thunder ‘We did it’ in a voice no one else can hear, within its sacred, but lonely, chapel of scientific thought. — Clair Cameron Patterson, reacting to being the first person to discover the age of the earth. “I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge
    [Show full text]
  • Blood Lead Test and Anticipatory Guidance
    Guideline #6 BLOOD LEAD TEST AND ANTICIPATORY GUIDANCE RATIONALE No level of lead (Pb) in the body is recognized as safe. Lead toxicity is associated with impaired cognitive, motor, behavioral, and physical abilities. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized a risk of neurodevelopmental sequelae at blood lead levels (BLLs) below 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood (mcg/dL) and replaced the former blood lead “level of concern” (10 mcg/dL) with a “reference level” of 5 mcg/dL.1 The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch (CLPPB) of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is more protective in defining increased lead exposure. It interprets the reference level to include all BLLs equal to or greater than 4.5 mcg/dL.* Lead is a common environmental contaminant present in all areas of the United States, and all children are at risk for lead’s toxic effects. Within the United States approximately half a million children ages 1-5 years have blood lead levels greater than 5 mcg/dL.2 Lead exposure is one of the most common and preventable environmental diseases among California children. Many common items are associated with lead poisoning, either as the primary source or as part of the child’s cumulative exposure. Some of these have received a good deal of public attention. However, exposure to deteriorated lead-based paint and lead- contaminated dust and soil remain the major causes of childhood lead poisoning in California. Drinking water can contain lead, although it has not been found to be a major source of lead exposure in our state.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Policy As Social Policy? the Impact of Childhood Lead Exposure on Crime
    NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AS SOCIAL POLICY? THE IMPACT OF CHILDHOOD LEAD EXPOSURE ON CRIME Jessica Wolpaw Reyes Working Paper 13097 http://www.nber.org/papers/w13097 NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 May 2007 I would especially like to thank Lawrence Katz for valuable advice, as well as David Cutler, Leemore Dafny, Amy Finkelstein, Claudia Goldin, Nora Gordon, Christopher Jencks, Walter Nicholson, Linda Reyes, René Reyes, Steven Rivkin, Geoffrey Woglom, Justin Wolfers, two anonymous referees, and many seminar participants. Numerous individuals at government agencies and petroleum industry companies generously provided data on lead in gasoline. Brent Mast, Bomy Hong, and John Indellicate II provided excellent research assistance. Any remaining errors are my own. This research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Bureau of Economic Research, the National Institute on Aging, and the Harvard Multidisciplinary Program in Inequality and Social Policy. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research. © 2007 by Jessica Wolpaw Reyes. All rights reserved. Short sections of text, not to exceed two paragraphs, may be quoted without explicit permission provided that full credit, including © notice, is given to the source. Environmental Policy as Social Policy? The Impact of Childhood Lead Exposure on Crime Jessica Wolpaw Reyes NBER Working Paper No. 13097 May 2007 JEL No. I18,K49,Q53,Q58 ABSTRACT Childhood lead exposure can lead to psychological deficits that are strongly associated with aggressive and criminal behavior. In the late 1970s in the United States, lead was removed from gasoline under the Clean Air Act.
    [Show full text]
  • Childhood Lead Exposures: Medical Management Recommendations For
    Childhood Lead Exposure and Poisoning Medical Management Recommendations . There is no safe level of lead in the blood. The CDC reference for an elevated blood lead level (BLL) is 5 µg/dL. Exposure to lead can have a wide range of effects on a child’s development and behavior. Any BLL of 5 µg/dL or higher requires intervention to prevent further lead exposure and increase in blood lead levels. Any capillary blood lead level ≥5 µg/dL should be confirmed with a venous blood lead test. Recommended Schedule for Obtaining Confirmatory Venous Test After Capillary Test Capillary BLL Confirm Capillary Test with Venous Blood Test: 0 – <5 µg/dL No confirmation needed. Repeat test according to DHHS Blood Lead Screening Plan. 5 – 9 µg/dL Within 3 months* 10 – 44 µg/dL Within 1 month* 45 – 69 µg/dL Within 24 - 48 hours* ≥ 70 µg/dL Immediately as an emergency test* *The higher the BLL on a screening test, the more urgent the need for confirmatory testing. Medical Management Recommendations for Confirmed Blood Lead Levels Confirmed Follow-up Venous Recommended Actions Based on Confirmed Venous BLL BLL Test Schedule Review lab results with family. For reference, the geometric mean blood lead level for No follow-up needed. children 1-5 years old is less than 2 µg/dL. Continue to test Repeat blood lead level in 6-12 months if the child is at high risk or risk changes during < 5 µg/dL according to DHHS the timeframe. Blood Lead Screening Plan Provide anticipatory guidance and discuss common lead exposure sources.
    [Show full text]
  • Lead in Drinking Water and Human Blood Lead Levels ​In the United States
    Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Supplement / Vol. 61 August 10, 2012 Lead in Drinking Water and Human Blood Lead Levels in the United States U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Supplement CONTENTS Introduction ...........................................................................................................1 Background ............................................................................................................1 Historical Trends in Blood Lead Levels ..........................................................3 Lead in the Environments of Children ..........................................................4 Lead in Drinking Water .......................................................................................4 Conclusion ..............................................................................................................7 References ...............................................................................................................7 The MMWR series of publications is published by the Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30333. Suggested Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Title]. MMWR 2012;61(Suppl; August 10, 2012):[inclusive page numbers]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH, Director Harold W. Jaffe, MD, MA, Associate Director for Science James
    [Show full text]
  • Recommended Chelation Protocol for Children with Blls ≥45 Μg/Dl
    The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Guidelines for Health Care Providers Recommended Chelation Protocol for Children With BLLs ≥45 μg/dL Before Providing Chelation Therapy: • Confirm the blood lead level (BLL) ≥45 μg/dL with a venous specimen processed as an emergency test unless symptoms of encephalopathy are present. • Obtain an abdominal x-ray to look for lead solid ingestion; if radio-opaque particles are found or recent ingestion is witnessed, use a cathartic. • Arrange hospitalization and chelation therapy at a facility with expertise in treating lead-poisoned children. • Provide chelation therapy in, and discharge child to, a lead-safe environment. Do not discharge until the NYC Health Department inspects the home. • Inform the NYC Health Department of the hospital admission by calling 646-632-6002. The Health Department can provide referrals to providers with expertise in treating lead intoxication and referrals to temporary lead-safe housing. Chelation Therapy For Children with Venous BLLs ≥45 μg/dL1 BLL (μg/dL) Agent, Dosage,* and Administration Special Considerations Follow-up <45 Chelation therapy not routinely recommended See Reverse for Recommended Follow-up Blood Lead Test Schedule for Children 45 to <70 • DMSA (succimer, 2,3-meso-dimercaptosuccinic acid) • Monitor for anemia, • Schedule weekly health care visits • 1050 mg DMSA / m2 / 24 hours* ÷ q8 hours PO x neutropenia, and to monitor compliance and signs of toxicity. 5 days; round dose to nearest 100 mg/day, and then hepatic toxicity. • Monitor BLLs weekly until level stabilizes, ÷ 100-mg capsules as evenly as possible for q8-hour then follow Recommended Follow-up dosing schedule.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Health Perspectives
    ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ehp PERSPECTIVES ehponline.org A Geospatial Analysis of the Effects of Aviation Gasoline on Childhood Blood Lead Levels Marie Lynn Miranda, Rebecca Anthopolos, Douglas Hastings http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1003231 Online 13 July 2011 National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Page 1 of 21 1 A Geospatial Analysis of the Effects of Aviation Gasoline on Childhood Blood Lead Levels Marie Lynn Miranda *, Rebecca Anthopolos, and Douglas Hastings Children’s Environmental Health Initiative, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 *Corresponding author: Marie Lynn Miranda, Ph.D. Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University Box 90328 Levine Science Research Center Room A134 Durham, NC 27708-0328 919-613-8023 (o) 919-684-3227 (fax) [email protected] Page 2 of 21 2 Running Title: Aviation Gasoline and Childhood Blood Lead Levels Keywords: Aviation gasoline; Avgas; Blood lead; Childhood; Geospatial; Lead poisoning Acknowledgments: The authors gratefully acknowledge aviation gas data provided by Marion Hoyer from the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality and childhood lead exposure data provided by Ed Norman and Tena Ward from the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. We also acknowledge the geocoding work undertaken by the GIS staff of the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative. This work was funded in part by a grant from the USEPA (RD- 83329301) and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (1 H64 EH000151). Competing Financial Interest Declaration: The authors have no competing financial interests with regard to this manuscript. Abbreviations (as defined in the text): Avgas Aviation gasoline CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CI Confidence interval EPA Environmental Protection Agency GIS Geographic Information Systems LL Low-lead NHANES National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Page 3 of 21 3 Abstract Background: Aviation gasoline, commonly referred to as avgas, is a leaded fuel used in small aircraft.
    [Show full text]
  • Ending Child Lead Exposure in Kent County
    Kent County Land Bank Authority Review Subcommittee ENDING CHILD LEAD EXPOSURE IN KENT COUNTY Kent County Lead Task Force January 2018 May 11, 2017 The mission of Kent County government is to be an effective and efficient steward in delivering quality services for our diverse community. Our priority is to provide mandated services, which may be enhanced and supplemented by additional services to improve the quality of life for all our citizens within the constraints of sound fiscal policy. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..............................................................................3 KENT COUNTY LEAD TASK FORCE: PURPOSE AND PEOPLE .............7 GLOSSARY..................................................................................................9 Chapter 1: LEAD: SO USEFUL, SO DANGEROUS .................................10 Why people use lead and how lead can harm them More Kent County children are being poisoned by lead Chapter 2: SOURCES OF LEAD IN KENT COUNTY ...............................18 It’s not our municipal water system Lead dust in homes and soils Other lead contamination sources Young children are most at risk Chapter 3: CURRENT MODEL: TEST ONLY SOME CHILDREN ............27 Who gets tested and how Treatment and follow up for lead-poisoned children Secondary treatment vs. primary prevention Chapter 4: CURRENT MODEL: GET LEAD OUT OF POISONED CHILDREN’S HOMES ...............................................................................34 Levels of lead hazard control Who finances lead hazard control
    [Show full text]
  • Catherine A. Wright
    In the Darkness Grows the Green: The Promise of a New Cosmological Horizon of Meaning Within a Critical Inquiry of Human Suffering and the Cross by Catherine A. Wright A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Regis College and the Theology Department of the Toronto School of Theology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology awarded by the University of St. Michael's College © Copyright by Catherine A. Wright 2015 In The Darkness Grows the Green: The Promise of a New Cosmological Horizon of Meaning Within a Critical Inquiry of Human Suffering and the Cross Catherine A. Wright Doctor of Philosophy in Theology Regis College and the University of St. Michael’s College 2015 Abstract Humans have been called “mud of the earth,”i organic stardust animated by the Ruah of our Creator,ii and microcosms of the macrocosm.iii Since we now understand in captivating detail how humanity has emerged from the cosmos, then we must awaken to how humanity is “of the earth” in all the magnificence and brokenness that this entails. This thesis will demonstrate that there are no easy answers nor complete theological systems to derive satisfying answers to the mystery of human suffering. Rather, this thesis will uncover aspects of sacred revelation offered in and through creation that could mould distinct biospiritual human imaginations and cultivate the Earth literacy required to construct an ecological theological anthropology (ETA). It is this ecocentric interpretive framework that could serve as vital sustenance and a vision of hope for transformation when suffering befalls us.
    [Show full text]
  • Effect of Chelation Therapy on the Neuropsychological and Behavioral Development of Lead-Exposed Children After School Entry
    Effect of Chelation Therapy on the Neuropsychological and Behavioral Development of Lead-Exposed Children After School Entry Kim N. Dietrich, PhD*; James H. Ware, PhD‡; Mikhail Salganik, PhD‡; Jerilynn Radcliffe, PhD§; Walter J. Rogan, MD࿣; George G. Rhoads, MD¶; Martha E. Fay, MPH‡; Cecilia T. Davoli, MD#; Martha B. Denckla, MD#; Robert L. Bornschein, PhD*; Donald Schwarz, MD**; Douglas W. Dockery, PhD‡; Susan Adubato, PhD‡‡; and Robert L. Jones, PhD§§, for the Treatment of Lead-Exposed Children Clinical Trial Group ABSTRACT. Objective. Some children in the United Results. Chelation therapy with succimer lowered av- States continue to be exposed to levels of lead that in- erage blood lead levels for ϳ6 months but resulted in no crease their risk for lowered intellectual functioning and benefit in cognitive, behavioral, and neuromotor end- behavior problems. It is unclear whether chelation ther- points. apy can prevent or reverse the neurodevelopmental se- Conclusion. These new follow-up data confirm our quelae of lead toxicity. The objective of this study was to previous finding that the TLC regimen of chelation ther- determine whether chelation therapy with succimer apy is not associated with neurodevelopmental benefits (dimercaptosuccinic acid) in children with referral blood in children with blood lead levels between 20 and 44 lead levels between 20 and 44 ␮g/dL (0.96-2.12 ␮mol/L) at ␮g/dL (0.96–2.17 ␮mol/L). These results emphasize the 12 to 33 months of age has neurodevelopmental benefits importance of taking environmental measures to prevent at age 7 years. exposure to lead. Chelation therapy with succimer cannot Methods.
    [Show full text]