Blood lead levels as low as 5 ug/dL have been shown to affect IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement in children. The prevalence rate represents all existing cases in a calendar year. No level of lead exposure is healthy. Prior to May 2013, lead poisoning was defined nationwide as a blood lead level of 10 ug/dL (i.e. “level of concern”). In 2013, the Connecticut DPH lowered the childhood blood lead action level to correspond with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference value of 5 ug/dL.  The decline in the prevalence of blood lead tests ³5 mg/dL has been steady since 2015, while the most profound decrease in a single year was observed in 2018, a 21.7% decrease from 2017 to 2018.  The decrease in prevalence rates can be attributed to improved case management, media campain targeting high risk population in 2016 to 2018, and enhanced enforcement actions on the part of local health. 

These data are current as of July 2020.  New data will be available in October 2020.

Potential Partners:

Connecticut Department of Public Health; State of Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice; Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Connecticut Department of Social Services; State Department of Education; Connecticut Department of Administrative Services; Connecticut Department of Children and Families; Connecticut Department of Housing; Office of the Attorney General; local courts; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; local public health agencies; local housing authorities and departments; housing and urban development agencies; professional associations for public health, housing; occupational health and safety, and the environment; continuing education providers; health insurers; organizations and coalitions focused on environmental health, housing, and real estate; primary care providers and community health centers; other professional associations; community service providers serving children and at-risk populations; regional lead treatment centers; licensed lead abatement and renovation contractors; childcare providers; and neighborhood revitalization zones.

The identification and abatement and remediation of lead hazards in child-occupied dwellings and licensed child daycare facilities (before children are poisoned); Early diagnosis and medical case management or treatment (Requirements and Guidance for Childhood Lead Screening by Health Care Professionals in Connecticut, CT DPH 2013); Partnering with housing and health organizations to fund lead abatement and rehab in homes in high-risk communities; Media campain of primary prevention targeting high-risk population.

For current year priority strategies and actions, click here (right click to open link).

SHIP Strategies:

Introduce policy that requires medical care providers to give anticipatory guidance to parents for children whose blood lead levels are at or above 5 µg/dL.

Leverage existing Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control funding allocated to communities for increasing targeted lead poisoning prevention efforts that have been proven effective.

Provide educational materials about reducing exposure to lead hazards to high risk families with children less than 6 years of age.

Utilize existing coalitions and collaborations to develop programs to target all children less than 6 years of age and highest risk populations in urban areas.

Partner with health care professionals to increase their ability to identify, prevent, and reduce environmental health threats, including lead, via technical assistance visits to providers, outreach to hospitals, and course(s) on environmental risk factors for children at the university level, school nurses.

Partner with health care professionals to establish and enhance case management activities to align with 2012 CDC recommendations for childhood lead poisoning prevention and control; and to improve provider compliance with mandated lead testing requirements increasing mandatory lead testing for all children at least once a year until they reach 3 years of age.

Identify high risk areas (pre 1978 housing with low socio-economic status families) in communities, and develop a plan to reduce exposure to lead-base painted surfaces.

Explore options for infrastructure/capacity to address lead poisoning, to address abatement or remediation issues effectively in a timely manner.

Develop a program to conduct inspections on units in pre-1978 rental housing; exploring collaborations with HUD inspectors with Healthy Homes inspections.