Neighborhood News

Blood Lead Levels in Children: What Parents Need to Know

This information is from the HealthyChildren.org website – click here to learn more.

Protecting children from exposure to lead is important to lifelong good health. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. And effects of lead exposure cannot be corrected.

The most important step parents, pediatricians, and others can take is to prevent lead exposure before it occurs. See Blood Lead Levels in Pregnant & Breastfeeding Moms.

Update on Blood Lead Levels in Children

  • Children can be given a blood test to measure the level of lead in their blood.
  • Until recently, children were identified as having a blood lead level of concern if the test result is 10 or more micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood. Experts now use a new level based on the U.S. population of children ages 1-5 years who are in the top 2.5% of children when tested for lead in their blood.
  • In the past, blood lead level tests below 10 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood may, or may not, have been reported to parents. The new, lower value means that more children likely will be identified as having lead exposure allowing parents, doctors, public health officials, and communities to take action earlier to reduce the child’s future exposure to lead. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) blood level of concern is 5 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood for children.
  • What has not changed is the recommendation for when to use medical treatment for children. These new recommendations do not change the recommendation that chelation therapy be considered when a child is found with a test result of greater than or equal to 45 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood.

Simple Steps to Make Your Home More Lead-Safe

  • Talk to your local health department about testing paint and dust in your home for lead if you live in a home built before 1978.
  • Common home renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint. These can be harmful to adults and children.
  • Renovation activities should be performed by certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices. Learn more at EPA’sRenovation, Repair, and Painting rule Web page.
  • If you see paint chips or dust in windowsills or on floors because of peeling paint, clean these areas regularly with a wet mop.
  • Wipe your feet on mats before entering the home, especially if you work in occupations where lead is used. Removing your shoes when you are entering the home is a good practice to control lead.
  • Remove recalled toys and toy jewelry from children. Stay up-to-date on current recalls by visiting the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web site.
  • See Lead Exposure: Steps to Protect Your Family for more things you can do.

Background

Effect of a Different Blood Lead Level

  • In the past, blood lead level tests below 10 micrograms per deciliter may, or may not, have been reported to parents. Identifying a child’s blood lead equal to or above 5 micrograms per deciliter means more parents should learn that their child has an elevated blood lead level.
  • Even though no medical treatment is recommended for children with blood lead levels lower than 45 micrograms per deciliter, parents will know they need to learn about sources of lead exposure and find out if one or more unrecognized sources of lead are present in their home. Parents then can follow the CDC’s recommendations to control exposure to lead.
  • No changes are recommended to the existing CDC guidelines for the evaluation and treatment of children requiring chelation (those with BLLs ≥ 45 micrograms per deciliter).

New Recommendations to Define Elevated Blood Lead Levels

  • In January 2012, a committee of experts recommended that the CDC change its “blood lead level of concern.” The recommendation was based on a growing number of scientific studies that show that even low blood lead levels can cause lifelong health effects.
  • The committee recommended that CDC link lead levels to data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) to identify children living or staying for long periods in environments that expose them to lead hazards. This new level is based on the population of children aged 1-5 years in the U.S. who are in the top 2.5% of children when tested for lead in their blood. Currently, that is 5 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood. CDC’s “blood lead level of concern” was previously 10 micrograms per deciliter.
  • The new value means that more children will be identified as having lead exposure earlier and parents, doctors, public health officials, and communities can take action earlier.
  • The committee also said, as CDC has long said, that the best way to protect children is to prevent lead exposure in the first place.

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