Blood Lead Poisoning Report

Number and percentage of children within each blood lead level category, out of all children screened 9 to 47 months of age. The blood lead levels are organized into four categories: 0-4 µg/dL, 5-9 µg/dL, 10-24 µg/dL, and ≥25 µg/dL. For each category, the number (N) and percentage (%) of screened children whose highest blood lead specimen fell within the category is shown. Blood lead levels in the 10-24 µg/dL category are considered elevated and blood lead levels ≥25 µg/dL signify lead poisoning. Also, the CDC uses a new reference level of 5 µg/dL to identify children whose blood lead levels are higher than 97.5% of all U.S. children’s levels, based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). However, there is no safe blood lead level. This data is an aggregate of the 5-9, 10-24, and ≥25 µg/dL blood lead level categories and shows the number (N) and
This data shows the number (N) and percentage (%) of children nine to 47 months of age with a confirmed blood lead specimen ≥10 µg/dL. While not presented in the table, the number of unconfirmed elevated ≥10 µg/dL can be calculated by summing the 10-24 and ≥25 µg/dL blood lead level categories and then subtracting the number of confirmed elevated ≥10 µg/dL. Finally, the percentage of all housing units built prior to 1978, according to the American Housing Survey. In 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned lead-containing paint (16 C.F.R. 1303). Housing units built prior to this date may contain dangerous levels of lead in paint. According to Massachusetts regulations (105 CMR 460.000), removal or covering of lead hazards is required in units built before 1978 where a child under six years of age is living. This is a change from earlier high risk community incidence rate statistics (data prior to 2009-2013), which used the percentage of all housing units built prior to