April 24th, 2008

A federal health survey known as NHANES, which had exposed health trends such as elevated blood levels of lead before the implementation of lead-free gas as well as high cholesterol levels in the 1960’s, is coming to Lancaster County for the first time in the program’s nearly 50-year existence.

 ”Starting today,” according to the Lancaster Intelligencer-Reporter, ”13 field workers will visit randomly selected county households to gather preliminary data. Those households previously received letters requesting their participation.

Based on the data gathered, some households will be asked to participate in extensive medical testing, the survey’s next phase, starting in mid-May. Those results will be combined with other data from elsewhere in the country to create a statistical picture of the nation’s health.”