Description of Session
In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) blood lead levels in children under 6 are a public health hazard with levels much higher than US or European children. Research about children lead levels in SSA is scarce. One 2013 article published in the journal “Tropical Medicine & International Health” noted there are only 16 related studies out of an electronic database search of 11,148 papers. Given the scarcity of published data, the international health community should consider how visualization software tools can leverage Geographic Information System (GIS) data to make an immediate impact by identifying probable causes of lead contamination in urban locations. Historically the main sources of elevated children lead levels are leaded gasoline and drinking water. Visualization tools can readily leverage GIS data in SSA to help identify likely sources. Examples include identifying known petrol stations supplying lead gasoline, identifying lead water service lines where data is available, identifying known refineries, and layering such data against residential areas, school locations, and even restaurants. Such uses of GIS data do not require extensive new databases when focused on urban areas given related address detail is usually available from social media advertisements and other means of internet searches.
