What is a safe lead level for a child?
Until 2012, children were identified as having a blood lead level of concern if the test result was 10 or more micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood. Prior to 2012, the blood lead test results for children with levels below 10 may, or may not, have been reported to parents. Experts now know that there is no safe lead level.
What should I do if my child is exposed to lead?
Talk to your child’s doctor if you are concerned about lead exposure. CDC now uses a blood lead reference value of 5 micrograms per deciliter to identify children with blood lead levels that are much higher than most children’s levels.
Is chelation therapy necessary for children with high lead levels?
What has not changed: the need to find the source of lead in children with all elevated blood lead levels so that exposure can be stopped. These new recommendations do not change the recommendation that chelation therapy be considered when a child is found with a test result of greater than or equal to 45 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood.
What percentage of children have lead in their blood?
This value is based on the U.S. population of children ages 1-5 years who are in the highest 2.5 percent of children when tested for lead in their blood. If a child has an elevated blood lead level, their doctor may recommend follow-up services.
What level of lead requires treatment?
The source of lead must be found and removed. A lead level greater than 45 µg/dL or 2.17 µmol/L in a child's blood most often indicates the need for treatment.
What should a child's lead level be?
The average lead test result for young children is about 1.4 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL). 5-14 • Your child's lead level is high. A result of 5 µg/dL or higher requires action. Your doctor or nurse will talk with you about your child's diet, growth and development, and possible sources of lead.
What is the normal range for lead testing?
In adults, lead blood levels up to 10 mcg/dL are considered normal. Anywhere from 10 to 25 mcg/dL is a sign that you're regularly exposed to lead. At 80 mcg/dL, you should consider treatment. Levels lower than 80 mcg/dl with symptoms may also indicate a need for treatment.
What does a lead level of 4 mean?
0-4 mcg/dL Blood level is not high. • Your child should be retested to confirm the blood lead level with a venous draw. (Finger sticks are a screening tool.) Greater than 5 mcg/dL. using a finger stick/capillary.
What is lead level concerning?
There is no safe blood level of lead. However, a level of 5 mcg/dL is used to indicate a possibly unsafe level for children. Children whose blood tests at those levels should be tested periodically. A child whose levels become too high — generally 45 mcg/dL or higher — should be treated.
Is any level of lead safe?
There is no known safe blood lead concentration; even blood lead concentrations as low as 5 µg/dL may be associated with decreased intelligence in children, behavioural difficulties and learning problems. As lead exposure increases, the range and severity of symptoms and effects also increase.
What causes high lead levels in 2 year old?
Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are common sources of lead poisoning in children. Other sources include contaminated air, water and soil. Adults who work with batteries, do home renovations or work in auto repair shops also might be exposed to lead.
How do I lower my toddler's lead level?
Step 1 - Regular Washing. Wash your child's hands often with soap and water. ... Step 2 - A Safer Home. Wet wash your home often - especially window sills and wells. ... Step 3 - Eat Healthy Foods. Feed your child food that is high in calcium, iron and Vitamin C. ... Step 4 - Medical Care.
Can lead levels go down?
"Your body does get rid of lead very slowly. So a small amount that gets in will be excreted. It is not a permanent blood level." A recent U.S. Preventive Services (USPS) Task Force panel noted in a 2006 report that children's blood-lead levels usually peak at about age 2 and go down after that.
What is a normal lead level for a 1 year old?
No safe amount of lead has been found in a child's blood. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most U.S. children ages 1 through 5 years have blood lead levels below 5 µg/dL (micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood).
How do I know if my child has lead poisoning?
If children are around items with a high level of lead, they won't have lead poisoning symptoms right away. But when they do, symptoms include stomach pain, headaches, vomiting, confusion, muscle weakness, seizures, hair loss, and anemia (a low red blood cell count).