Lead Poisoning Threshold Lowered in Children

It has now been reported that for the first time in 20 years, U.S. health officials have lowered the threshold for lead poisoning in young children.  The new standard means hundreds and thousands of young children could be diagnosed with high levels of lead.  Too much lead is harmful to developing brains and can mean a lower IQ.  The standard is for children younger than six.

Really there is no safe level of blood lead in children according to Mr. Portier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lead poisoning is detected through a blood test.  The change means poisoning will be defined as 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood.  The old standard was 10 micrograms.  Under the old standard lead poisoning in children has been on the decline in the United States.  Experts estimated that approximately 77,000 and 255,000 children had high levels of lead.  This recent change could raise the count to 450,000 cases.

For additional valuable information, please visit: Lead Free Kids, Safety At Home or Mayo Clinic.