Source: National Center for Environmental Health — Content from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (public domain).

Key points

  * There are no safe levels of lead in the blood.
  * Many children ingest lead dust by putting objects such as toys and dirt in their mouths.
  * The goal of CDC's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) is to prevent childhood lead exposure before any harm occurs.

Girl looking at camera playing with a paint set.

Overview

Lead is a naturally occurring metal that can cause negative health effects. People are exposed to lead by eating lead paint chips, ingesting contaminated food or water, and/or by breathing in lead dust.

Children younger than 6 years are more likely to be exposed due to their hand-to-mouth behavior. Many children ingest lead dust by putting objects such as toys and dirt in their mouths.

Lead in blood

No safe blood lead level (BLL) in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood are associated with developmental delays, difficulty learning, and behavioral issues. The effects of lead poisoning can be permanent and disabling.

There are steps that parents and healthcare providers can take to protect children from lead exposure. Healthcare providers can perform a blood lead test if a child was or may have been exposed to lead.

CDC uses a blood lead reference value (BLRV) of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL). This reference level helps identify children with BLLs higher than most children’s levels. CDC estimates that approximately 500,000 children in the United States have BLLs at or above the BLRV. Healthcare providers can use CDC’s Recommended Actions Based on Blood Lead Level to develop a plan of action for their patient. More information about sources of exposure, risk factors, testing and prevention is provided below.

Risk factors

Some children are at a greater risk for lead exposure from paint, water, soil, some imported items and industrial sources. They may also be exposed through their parents and caregivers from certain jobs and hobbies.

Keep Reading People at Increased Risk for Childhood Lead Poisoning

Causes

Children can be exposed to lead where they live, learn, and play. Sources of lead exposure can include the following:

  * [Chipping or peeling paint](</lead-prevention/prevention/paint.html>) in homes or buildings built before 1978
  * [Water](</lead-prevention/prevention/drinking-water.html>) from lead pipes
  * [Soil](</lead-prevention/prevention/soil.html>) near airports, highways, or factories
  * Some imported [candies and traditional medicines](</lead-prevention/prevention/foods-cosmetics-medicines.html>)
  * Some imported [toys and jewelry](</lead-prevention/prevention/consumer-products.html>)
  * Certain [jobs and hobbies](</lead-prevention/prevention/jobs-hobbies-activities.html>)

A young girl is peeping through a window in a door with peeling and chipping paint.

Older homes and buildings may be painted with lead-based paint.

Prevention

The goal of CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) is to prevent childhood lead exposure before any harm occurs. Through CLPPP, CDC supports state and local public health departments with funds for surveillance and prevention of lead exposure.

Testing

A blood lead test is the best way to determine if a child has been exposed to lead. Parents can talk to their healthcare provider to find out if a blood lead test is needed. Healthcare providers can recommend follow-up actions and care based on the child’s BLL.

To find out if a home has lead, hire a certified lead inspector to test for lead. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead Abatement, Inspection and Risk Assessment web page to locate one. Renters can ask their landlord to have the home inspected or to share results of recently conducted lead inspections.

Resources

  * [HRSA-CDC letter on childhood lead poisoning prevention and blood lead testing ](<https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/135295>)
  * [Sources of lead](</lead-prevention/prevention/index.html>)
  * [Lead exposure symptoms and complications](</lead-prevention/symptoms-complications/index.html>)
  * [Testing for lead poisoning in children](</lead-prevention/testing/index.html>)
  * [Blood lead levels in U.S. children ages 1–11 years, 1976–2016](<https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/pdf/10.1289/EHP7932>)
  * [Data and statistics](</lead-prevention/php/data/index.html>)

⚠ Caution

Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.