Child Lead Poisoning Threshold Lowered
Posted by
Larry BuckfireJuly 18, 2007 9:07 AMA diagnosis of child lead poisoning is most frequently made through a blood test. The Center for Disease Control classifies a child as being lead poisoned when the blood lead level is greater or equal to 10 miicrograms per deciileter. That number has decreased over the last 30 years as medical research has found that children can suffer permanent brain damage at levels lower than previously believed. Several recent studies have found that children can suffer neurological injuries at levels even less than 5 micrograms.
In a bold public health care move, the Greater Cleveland ,Ohio has lowered the current threshold of lead poisoning from 10 micrograms to 5. By lowering the level, suburban kids, once considered safe, may now be at risk.
The change would mean that nearly 6,500 children in Cleveland and an additional 1,500 in the rest of the county are being poisoned by lead. However, this may be underestimated because so many suburban children are not tested.
The Cleveland Department of Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Shaker Heights Health Department and Lakewood Health Department jointly sent out a letter to 1,200 pediatricians asking them to lead test children between ages one and four.
My firm specializes in child lead poisoning cases throughout Michigan and Ohio and we have a number currently pending in the Greater Cleveland area. This new action by the Greater Cleveland area is a futher positive step in the efforts to intervene early in the process and to reduce further exposure and injury.
For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.