BREAKING NEWS: CDC Advisory Committee Report: Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children; Calls for lowering blood lead levels, more prevention
January 4, 2012 – In a decision described as “historic,†an expert advisory committee to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted today to recommend a significant change in the level at which children are considered to have too much lead 
in their blood. The change will increase the number of children requiring medical care and follow-up environmental services from less than 100,000 to 450,000.
Currently, CDC recommends action at a blood lead level of 10 micrograms per deciliter. The new reference value, which is based on population blood lead levels, would focus action on those children with the highest blood lead levels (i.e. those above the 97.5th percentile). The revised value would therefore be 5 micrograms per deciliter. Â
The ACCLPP statement also underscores the need to focus on prevention, since the damage caused by lead poisoning is irreversible.
Read The Associated Press story here.
Read the National Center for Health Housing news release here
DOWNLOAD the Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention of the Center on Disease Control and Prevention Final Report, “Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children: A Renewed Call for Primary Prevention”
Read “Any Lead is Too Much Lead” story here.
