- The ARC - California Edition -

Lead Poisoning - A Reminder

Lead is everywhere and key to the interests of this newsletter is that LEAD is officially known by the state to be a reproductive toxin and can damage the fetus. It also affects the cognitive development and behavior of young children. 

There was a dramatic decline in the average amount of lead found in the blood tests of children during the late 1770s through 1990s resulting primarily from the phase-out of leaded gasoline and the elimination of lead in new paint.

The remaining major sources of childhood lead exposure are the deteriorated leaded paint, and the soil and dust it contaminates in old housing.

A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides an update about the status of the efforts to reduce exposure of dangerous mineral.

Currently an elevated blood lead level is defined as a test result of greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. The CDC report deals with tracking the results of testing children during the years 1996 through 1998.

In summary, the findings of the report indicate that average lead levels in the blood of U.S. children aged 1 to 5 years have declined. The table below shows the details.

(Blood Lead Levels in Young Children—United States and Selected States, 1996-1999; MMWR, December 22, 2000)