Which action represents secondary prevention to reduce environmental health risks?

• A. Collecting blood specimens from preschool children to check for lead levels
• B. Meeting with local government officials to request that the city clean up a hazardous vacant lot
• C. Referring a child with toxic lead levels to a neurologist
• D. Teaching parents of a 2-year-old about the dangers of lead-based paint in older homes

Answer: (A)

Secondary prevention aims to detect a problem early, before symptoms or irreversible damage occur, so that progress toward illness can be interrupted. Screen­ing preschoolers for elevated blood lead levels fits this, because many children with lead exposure have no obvious signs. By collecting blood specimens and identifying those with high levels, clinicians can intervene promptly—removing the exposure source, guiding environmental remediation, and monitoring development—to prevent neurodevelopmental harm.

Other actions target different stages: involving officials to clean up hazardous areas is primary prevention (stopping exposure before it happens); referring a child with known toxic levels to a neurologist addresses established harm (tertiary prevention); and teaching parents about lead risks is also primary prevention by reducing future exposure.