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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.3/6 <br />The primary dierence between the prior BLRV of 5 µg/dL and the current BLRV of 3.5 µg/dL is that children with a <br />blood lead level within the 3.5–5 µg/dL range will now also be identied as having lead exposure greater than 97.5% <br />of children. This can encourage prompt action to mitigate harmful health eects and removal or control of lead <br />exposure sources. CDC  recommends that children with BLLs of 3.5 µg/dL and higher receive routine assessment of <br />nutritional and developmental milestones, environmental exposure history to identify potential sources of lead <br />exposure, nutritional counseling related to calcium and iron intake, and follow-up blood lead level testing at <br />recommended intervals based on the child’s age. CDC provides a summary of Recommended Actions Based on <br />Blood Lead Level. <br />What is lead poisoning?Lead poisoning or lead toxicity refers to exposures to lead that result in illness and require immediate medical <br />attention. It is used to describe cases when there are severe health eects related to high blood lead levels. If blood <br />lead levels are 45 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) or greater, healthcare providers may recommend medication to <br />help remove lead from the body. However, children are highly sensitive to lead and exposure at lower levels has <br />been shown to cause harm. CDC provides a summary of Recommended Actions Based on Blood Lead Level. <br />Many factors aect how dierent people’s bodies handle exposure to lead. These factors include a person’s age, <br />nutritional status, source of lead exposure, amount of lead exposure, underlying health conditions, and length of <br />exposure. Many children  exposed to lead have no obvious symptoms. Some exposures, however, cause more <br />obvious health eects that need urgent treatment. <br />No level of lead exposure or lead in the body is safe for children. Even low levels of lead that were once considered <br />safe have been linked to harmful changes in intelligence, behavior, and health. Children are most at risk because <br />they are still developing physically and mentally. <br />A blood lead reference value (BLRV) of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) can be used to identify children with <br />blood lead levels higher than those of most U.S. children, determine appropriate follow-up actions, and prevent <br />further exposure. The BLRV is simply the level at which a child has more lead in their blood than do most U.S. <br />children (97.5% of children age 1–5 years). <br />If you are concerned that your child has been exposed to lead, contact their healthcare provider to get a blood lead <br />test. Based on the results of the test, actions can be taken to reduce further exposure to lead and connect them to <br />recommended treatment and services. Lead exposure is preventable. <br />What are the benets of updating the blood lead reference value for children age less than 6 years <br />old from 5 µg/dL to 3.5 µg/dL?There is no safe level of lead in blood. Updating the reference value encourages CDC, federal partners, and health <br />departments to focus on young children, under age of 6 years, with the highest exposure to lead compared with <br />most U.S. children. This is part of the nation’s ongoing eort to reduce blood lead levels even further and identify <br />sources of exposure to those young children at highest risk for continued exposures. <br />The primary dierence between the previous blood lead reference value (BLRV) of 5 µg/dL and the updated BLRV of <br />3.5 µg/dL is that children with a blood lead level (BLL) within the 3.5–5 µg/dL range will also be prioritized for lead <br />reduction action. With the updated BLRV, children with higher BLLs will continue to be eligible for the same targeted <br />services as previously described. CDC recommends that children with BLLs of 3.5 µg/dL and higher receive routine <br />assessment of nutritional and developmental milestones, environmental assessment of detailed history to identify <br />potential sources of lead exposure, nutritional counseling related to calcium and iron intake, and follow-up BLL <br />testing at recommended intervals based on the child’s age.