Definition of Reported Measures

As of October 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses a blood lead reference value (BLRV) of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to identify children with blood lead levels that are higher than most children's levels. 

• Blood lead 3.5 µg/dL and over among tested children represents California children who were tested and had blood lead levels of 3.5 µg/dL and over; expressed as a percent of the number of children tested.
• Blood lead < 3.5 µg/dL among tested children represents California children who were tested and had blood lead levels below 3.5 µg/dL; expressed as a percent of the number of children tested.

Prior to 2021, the reference level was 5 µg/dL. Prior to 2012, the “level of concern” was 10 or more µg/dL of lead in blood.

• Blood lead 9.5 µg/dL and over among tested children represents California children who were tested and had blood lead levels of 9.5 µg/dL and over; expressed as a percent of the number of children tested.
• Blood lead 4.5–9.5 µg/dL among tested children represents California children who were tested and had blood lead levels of 4.5–9.5 µg/dL; expressed as a percent of the number of children tested.
• Blood lead < 4.5 µg/dL among tested children represents California children who were tested and had blood lead levels below 4.5 µg/dL; expressed as a percent of the number of children tested.

How to Read Tables, Charts, and Maps

• Percent (%) refers to the percent of tested children with the outcome relative to the total number of children tested.
• Number refers to the number of tested children with the outcome.
• Number of children tested is the total number of children tested.
• N/A indicates that the data are suppressed.

Data Sources

• Response and Surveillance System for Childhood Lead Exposures (RASSCLE II) from the State of California, Department of Public Health, Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch.

Methods

• Children are unique per year, only their highest blood lead level (BLL) is reported.
• Blood lead levels reported as "< 5 µg/dL" are included in the category "BLL < 4.5 µg/dL."

Limitations of the data

• These data are subject to change as data are updated and only represent children that were screened and tested, it cannot be interpreted as the total burden of childhood lead poisoning in a county.

Suggested Citation

Tracking California, Public Health Institute. Childhood Lead Poisoning data. Accessed [Month/Day/Year] from https://data.trackingcalifornia.org

Notes about the data (PDF)