Biomonitoring - Lead
Lead is a naturally occurring metal used in the production of fuels, paints, ceramic products, batteries, solder, and a variety of consumer products. Many uses of lead, including in fuel for cars and in paint, were phased out in the United States; however, children continue to be exposed to lead due to its widespread distribution in the environment. Childhood lead exposure is associated with reduced cognitive function and behavioral problems.
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Indicators
B1: Lead in children
Web update: 2023
Key Information
- The median level of lead in the blood of children ages 1 to 5 years was 0.6 µg/dL in 2017-2020, a decrease of 96% since 1976-1980. The median represents the midpoint of exposure.
- The 95th percentile level of lead in the blood of children ages 1 to 5 years was about 2 µg/dL in 2017-2020, a decrease of 93% since 1976-1980. The 95th percentile represents higher exposure.
- The largest decline in blood lead levels occurred from the 1970s to the 1990s, following the elimination of lead in gasoline. The data show a continuing decline in blood lead levels from the 2000s until 2020, with the primary focus of lead reduction efforts on lead-based paint in homes.
- In 2017-2020, lead exposures at the median and 95th percentile were highest among young children ages 1 and 2 years and decreased by age group through ages 16 to 17 years.
Data Characterization
Data for this indicator are obtained from an ongoing continuous survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Survey data are representative of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population.
Lead is measured in blood samples obtained from individual survey participants.
B2: Lead in children, by race/ethnicity and family income
Web update: 2023
Key Information
- The median blood lead level in Black non-Hispanic children ages 1 to 5 years in 2015-2020 it was 0.8 µg/dL, which was higher than the level of in all other groups of children.
- The median blood lead level for children living in families with incomes below the poverty level was 0.8 µg/dL, and for children living in families at or above the poverty level it was 0.6 µg/dL.
- The 95th percentile blood lead level in children ages 1 to 5 years was 2.4 µg/dL in 2015-2020. Among children in families with incomes below poverty level, the 95th percentile blood lead was 2.8 µg/dL, and among those in families at or above the poverty level it was 2.2 µg/dL.
Data Characterization
Data for this indicator are obtained from an ongoing continuous survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Survey data are representative of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population.
Lead is measured in blood samples obtained from individual survey participants.
About the Lead Indicators
Lead is a naturally occurring metal used in the production of fuels, paints, ceramic products, batteries, solder, and a variety of consumer products. Many uses of lead, including in fuel for cars and in paint, were phased out in the United States beginning in the 1970s, resulting in substantial reductions in exposure to lead. However, children continue to be exposed to lead due to its widespread distribution in the environment. Currently in the United States, the major source of early childhood lead exposure is lead-contaminated house dust. A major contributor to lead in house dust is deteriorated or disrupted lead-based paint. Drinking water is an additional known source of lead exposure among children in the United States, particularly from corrosion of pipes and other elements of the drinking water distribution systems. Exposure to lead via drinking water may be particularly high among very young children who consume baby formula prepared with drinking water that is contaminated by leaching lead pipes. Direct contact with lead-contaminated soil, ingestion of lead-based paint chips, and inhalation of lead in ambient air also contribute to childhood lead exposure. Current sources of lead in ambient air in the United States include smelters, ore mining and processing, lead acid battery manufacturing, airports, and coal combustion activities such as electricity generation.
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has concluded that childhood lead exposure is associated with reduced cognitive function. Children with higher blood lead levels generally have lower scores on IQ tests and reduced academic achievement. In addition to the effects on IQ and school performance, research has increasingly focused on the effects of lead on behavior. The NTP concluded that childhood lead exposure is associated with attention-related behavioral problems (such as inattention, hyperactivity, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and increased incidence of problem behaviors (including delinquent, criminal, or antisocial behavior). No safe level of lead exposure has been identified. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses a blood lead reference value (BLRV) of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to identify children with blood lead levels that are higher than most children’s levels. EPA addresses lead contamination and resulting hazards under laws that address lead in paint, dust and soil; lead in the air; lead in water; and disposal of lead waste. EPA is also continuing to work under the goals of the Federal Lead Action Plan.
For historical and contextual information about lead and these indicators, see the Lead section of America's Children and the Environment, Third Edition (pdf) .
Data Sources and Methods - Lead
The National Center for Health Statistics, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducts the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), a series of U.S. national surveys of the health and nutrition status of the noninstitutionalized civilian population. Interviews and physical examinations are conducted with approximately 10,000 people in each two-year survey cycle. The survey measures lead levels in blood samples collected from NHANES participants.
- Detailed Methods for Indicators B1 and B2 (pdf)
- Metadata for National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES)
Related Links
- U.S. EPA: Lead
- U.S. EPA: Federal Action Plan to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposure
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): Lead
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Lead
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Blood Lead Reference Value
- National Toxicology Program (NTP): Health Effects of Low-Level Lead Evaluation