State study shows slightly raised levels of lead in children’s blood near airports

DENVER (KDVR) — A 10-year study conducted around 12 of Colorado’s regional and county airports found slightly higher levels of lead in the blood results of children who live within 2 miles of such an airport.

However, the study also noted that the levels are below the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s blood lead reference value, and blood levels beyond 2 miles from a regional airport were close to or below the average level reported in children across Colorado.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment conducted the study from 2011 through 2021, and the organization plans to publish it in an academic journal soon.

US pediatricians reverse decades-old advice against HIV-positive mothers breastfeeding

The study looked at airports that use leaded aviation fuel, which tends to be used by general aviation airports (in piston aircraft) and is not used by large, commercial airlines, which use jet fuel. Additionally, smaller planes and airports have limited airspace, typically flying closer to the ground and the residents. One pilot in Jefferson County told FOX31 in February that he can only climb to 10,000 feet.

The 12 airports used in the study include Centennial, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, Erie Municipal, Glenwood Springs Municipal, Greeley Weld County and Rifle Garfield County. The study did not use Denver International Airport. Researchers said, “The averages from the 12 airport communities are likely representative of all communities near Colorado airports that service airplanes that use leaded gas.”

Because the data was aggregated, the study cannot say whether children living near one airport have higher lead levels than children living near different airports.

The World Health Organization says there is no level of exposure to lead without harm. CDPHE notes there are many ways to be exposed to lead, ranging from lead-based paints, soil and dust, hobbies and careers, water in pipes and even certain home remedies.

Jeffco airport concerns bring lead levels to the forefront

Aviation fuel and its effects on children have been recently discussed in connection with the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, with over 400 Jefferson County residents filing a lawsuit in December that claimed the airport is violating their airspace, dumping lead on their homes and devaluing their homes. The group asked for financial compensation.

In March, the town of Superior and Boulder County also filed a lawsuit against Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport citing threats to residents’ health, safety and welfare.

Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport is the third-busiest airport in the state and had almost 300,000 takeoffs and landings during 2023. The airport also announced in 2023 that it would transition to unleaded fuel within the next four years and had a noise abatement program to reduce noise.

“Lead exposure affects children differently,” CDPHE explained in the study summary. “Some children may show signs and symptoms such as speech, behavior, or learning difficulties, and others may not.

“There are a number of considerations for each child, which is why it is so important for parents and caregivers to be working with a medical provider. There are also protective factors to reduce the amount of lead that is absorbed into the body such as washing your hands frequently or offering a diet high in iron, vitamin C, and calcium,” CDPHE said.

Anthem, CommonSpirit Health hospitals restore Coloradans’ in-network access

The study used census block-level data for the population under 18 years old of the aggregated population to find the number of minors near the airports. The data set did not have children under 6 years old broken out from the rest, although those children typically have the highest risk of health impacts from lead, according to CDPHE and the CDC.

Low testing rates cause difficulty for scientists

CDPHE said there were fewer blood-lead level tests conducted than they would have wanted, saying the researchers were “only able to look at the communities around 12 airports that had enough blood lead tests during the 10-year study period to make our analysis meaningful.”

In a presentation to Westminster City Council, CDPHE officials said Colorado has low blood lead testing rates, and on average, 2% of the tests reported are confirmed to be elevated levels.

Abortion rights initiative makes Colorado’s ballot

The study results do not detail the risks or emissions for any specific airport but provide the number of blood-lead level tests conducted based on the distance the child lived from an airport.

CDPHE recommends that concerned parents get their children tested to learn more about lead exposure for their family.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.