Kansas City,
22
June
2016
|
09:29 AM
America/Chicago

Study shows 3 percent of young children have high levels of lead in their blood

High blood lead levels have been found in about 3% of children around the country, according to a new study.

The findings from Quest Diagnostics were released Wednesday, June 15, two days after federal authorities announced new measures to reduce lead exposure in public housing.

Lead exposure has been associated with health, learning and behavior problems. While no amount is safe, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), levels at or above 5 micrograms per deciliter are considered high.

Quest’s six-year study examined results of venous blood test results from 3.8 million children under age 6 in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. and found these high lead levels in 3.1% of boys and 2.8% of girls, according to the study published in the Journal of Pediatrics.

The highest proportions of high blood lead levels were found in Minnesota (10.3%), Pennsylvania (7.8%), Kentucky (7.1%), Ohio (7%) and Connecticut (6.7%). In six Zip codes located in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio more than 14% of the tests showed high blood lead levels. The states with the lowest proportion of elevated tests were Florida (1.1%) and California (1.4%).

Elevated blood lead levels were more likely to be found in areas with high proportions of houses built before 1950 and areas with high poverty rates, according to the study. Nationwide, high blood lead levels declined from 3.67% in the first year of the study to 2.59% in the final year.

“This study shows us that we may have had some successes, yes they were less elevated over the time period they looked at, but lead is still a problem,” said Jennifer A. Lowry, M.D., Chief of Section of Toxiocology at Children's Mercy, FAACT, FAAP, chair of the AAP Council on Environmental Health Executive Committee.

She stressed the need for pediatricians to be diligent about testing children at risk for lead exposure.

“That’s really got to be where we are until we get to a point where all children will not be exposed,” Dr. Lowry said.

The Academy released detailed guidance in an updated policy Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity on Monday, June 20.

 

Read the whole story via AAP Gateway.

Learn about the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit at Children's Mercy.