Children and adults live in and maintain a safe and healthy environment
Number of children diagnosed with elevated lead levels in blood
Current Value
10
Definition
Elevated Blood Lead Levels Among Ohio Children (≥5 µg/dL), Under Six Years of Age by Confirmatory Sample.
Only a venous draw may be classified as a confirmed test. Point-of-care devices can never confirm a childs lead level, regardless of whether the sample is venous or capillary.
Story Behind the Curve
In November of 2014, the State of Ohio adopted 5 μg/dL as the new threshold for elevated blood lead levels in children. This is in line with the CDC reference value and scientific literature, which have established that children are subject to adverse effects of lead poisoning at blood lead levels (BLLs) much lower than the previous reference value of 10 μg/dL.
Childhood lead exposure and its resultant clinical manifestations ranging from elevated BLLs to lead poisoning remain a major public health problem among young children in the United States. Lead adversely affects children’s cognitive and behavioral development, which is strongly related to their future productivity and expected earnings. Dramatic reductions in BLLs of U.S. children during 1970–1990 were attributed to population-based primary prevention policies (such as the banning of lead in gasoline) in conjunction with improved lead screening and identification of children with elevated BLLs.
Partners
What Works
Identifying and remediating lead in homes.
Increased screening for elevated blood lead levels in children.
Lead-safe housing directory - Ohio Housing Locator
Strategy
Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.