Public health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that the number of children with dangerous levels of lead in their blood has dropped dramatically. Lead can severely harm children’s developing nervous systems, causing permanent learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and neurological damage. This decline is good news and follows years of work to limit children’s exposure to lead.

At one time, children were exposed to this toxic metal from a variety of sources, including paint and gasoline, and even from children’s products. In the 1970s, lead was removed from gasoline. This was followed by work to remove or limit exposure to old, leaded paint from houses. Public education programs advised parents to not let children near paint removal projects or other likely sources of exposures. Consumer products with high lead levels were banned and recalled. 

This work has paid off. In the past 20 years, there has been an 84 percent drop in the number of children with high blood lead levels. Today, just 1.4 percent of children studied had 10 micrograms or more of lead per deciliter of blood, as compared to nearly 9 percent in 1988.

However, more work needs to be done to protect our children from exposure to lead. The CDC developed the 10 microgram figure in 1991.  But the CDC has also recognized that there is no known safe level of lead in children’s blood. Recent science indicates that even though initial exposures cause the steepest drop in IQ, ongoing exposures can cause further harm. 

The work to limit children’s exposure to lead has seen successful, but more must be done. These programs build better lives and save money by preventing costly medical and social problems that can develop later in life for children who are exposed to lead.  You can count on me to continue to work to give our children healthy starts.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator