Objectively measured external building quality, Census housing vacancies and age, and serum metals in an adult cohort in Detroit, Michigan

BACKGROUND: Residentially-derived lead pollution remains a significant problem in urban areas across the country and globe. The risks of childhood residence in housing contaminated with lead-based paint are well-established, but less is known about the effects of housing quality on adult lead exposure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of residential-area housing age, vacancy status, and building quality on adult lead exposures. METHODS: We evaluated the effect of Census block group housing vacancy proportion, block group housing age, and in-person survey evaluated neighborhood building quality on serum levels of lead, mercury, manganese, and copper among a representative cohort of adults in Detroit, Michigan, from 2008-2013 using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Participants in Census block groups with higher proportions of vacant and aged housing had non-significantly elevated serum lead levels. We identified similar positive associations between residence in neighborhoods with poorer objectively-measured building quality and serum lead. Associations between Census vacancies, housing age, objectively-measured building quality, and serum lead were stronger among participants with a more stable residential history. SIGNIFICANCE: Vacant, aged, and poorly maintained housing may contribute to widespread, low-level lead exposure among adult residents of older cities like Detroit, Michigan. US Census and neighborhood quality data may be a useful tool to identify population-level lead exposures among US adults.