Lead Poisoning

Definition and prevalence

Lead poisoning can damage a young child's developing brain, causing learning and behavioral disabilities. CDC has established 10 mcg/d or higher of blood-lead levels as exceeding acceptable standards. Lead poisoning is associated with poor school performance and there is persuasive evidence of lead's damage to intellectual functioning at even lower blood-lead levels.

Almost one million American children under the age of 6 (approximately 4% of children in that age group) have dangerously high levels of lead in their blood, making lead poisoning one of the most widespread childhood diseases. This problem is most severe among families that live in older housing units: Sixteen percent of low-income children and 21% of African American children who live in older housing have elevated lead levels. In 1978, 14.8 million American children suffered from lead poisoning in the United States. Since then, children's blood-lead levels have declined more than 80% due to the elimination of lead from house paint, gasoline, and food and beverage cans. Lead has been significantly reduced in industrial emissions, drinking water, consumer goods, hazardous waste sites, and other sources. However, 27% of the nation's housing units (25.5 million units) still contain lead paint hazards. The most common cause of lead exposure for young children is lead paint in older housing.