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6/23/22, 10:26 AM CDC updates blood lead reference value | Lead | CDC <br />https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/news/cdc-updates-blood-lead-reference-value.html#:~:text=CDC updates blood lead reference value to 3.5 µg%2FdL&text=CDC uses a blood lead,higher than most children's levels.2/6 <br />Frequently Asked Questions <br />What is CDC’s blood lead reference value?CDC has been involved in dening the criteria for interpreting blood lead levels in children for more than 40 years. In <br />2012, CDC introduced the concept of a blood lead reference value (BLRV) to identify children with higher levels of <br />lead in their blood compared with levels in most children. The BLRV is based on the 97.5th percentile of the blood <br />lead distribution in U.S. children ages 1–5 years. In 2012, the BLRV in children was established to be 5 micrograms <br />per deciliter (µg/dL). In 2021, CDC updated the BLRV in children to 3.5 μg/dL. <br />The BLRV is based on data from two consecutive cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey <br />(NHANES). The BLRV is updated periodically to reect changes in the population. The current update is based on data <br />from the 2015–2018 NHANES cycles. <br />Why did CDC update the blood lead reference value?The blood lead reference value (BLRV) is based on the 97.5th percentile of blood lead distribution in children, as <br />determined from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. The updated blood lead <br />reference value is based on NHANES data from 2015–2016 and 2017–2018. CDC’s Federal Advisory Committee, called <br />the Lead Exposure and Prevention Advisory Committee, unanimously voted on May 14, 2021, in favor of updating <br />the reference value to 3.5 μg/dL, based on data from the 2015–2018 NHANES cycles. <br />Updating the reference value allows CDC, healthcare providers, federal agencies, and health departments to focus <br />resources on children with the highest exposure to lead compared with most children in that age range. By updating <br />the BLRV to 3.5 μg/dL, children with blood lead levels within the range of 3.5–5 μg/dL will now also be identied to <br />receive prompt actions to mitigate health eects and control potential exposure sources. <br />Does CDC work with other groups that have a role in lead poisoning prevention?Yes, CDC works with other federal agencies, CDC-funded lead grantees, and public health and medical partners to <br />keep healthcare providers and the public informed. <br />What is a “reference value”?No safe level of lead in children has been identied. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to reduce <br />children’s IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. Because any blood lead level can harm children, <br />our focus is on eliminating exposure in the rst place. <br />If a child has a blood lead level below the blood lead reference value (BLRV), it does not mean a child is free from <br />harm caused by lead exposure. The reference value simply shows the value at which a child has more lead in their <br />blood than most U.S. children (97.5% of children age 1–5 years).