Study: 1 in 20 Ohio children has elevated lead levels in blood, more than twice national rate

Ohio children have elevated levels of lead in their blood at more than two times the national rate, according to a study released Monday (Source: “Ohio kids’ show elevated lead blood levels at more than twice the national rate, study finds,” Ohio Capital Journal, Sept. 28).

The research, from JAMA Pediatrics, found about 5.2% of Ohio children have elevated levels of lead in their system.

Nationally, the rate is about 1.9%. Ohio ranked second nationally in terms of states with the highest rates of children with elevated blood levels.

Lead is a neurotoxin linked to developmental, mental, and physical impairment, and young children are especially vulnerable. There’s no safe level of exposure for children, though their blood is considered elevated when it contains 5 micrograms per deciliter.

Ohio is one of six states with kids’ proportions of elevated blood levels more than twice the national average, along with Nebraska (6%), Pennsylvania (5%), Missouri (4.5%), Michigan (4.5%) and Wisconsin (4.3%).