Complete Indicator Profile of Blood Lead in Children

Definition

Percentage of children tested, aged 0 through 5 years with blood lead levels of 10 mcg/dL or greater in this age group.

Numerator

Total number of children tested, aged 0 through 5 years with a blood lead level of 10 mcg/dL or greater.

Denominator

Total number of children aged 0 through 5 years tested for blood lead.

Why Is This Important?

Lead poisoning is the most significant and prevalent disease of environmental origin among children living in the United States. Despite considerable knowledge and increased screening and intervention efforts, lead exposures remain prevalent. Environmental lead is a toxic substance that is affecting the growth and development of up to one million U.S. preschool children today, with effects ranging from learning disabilities to death. High levels of lead can cause many health problems by damaging the brain, nervous system, and kidneys. Lead poisoning can cause decreased intelligence, behavioral and speech problems, anemia, decreased muscle and bone growth, poor muscle coordination, and hearing damage.

Increased lead exposure and increased body burden of lead remains a significant problem for children in the United States. Lead is an environmental toxicant that may cause adverse health effects to the nervous, hematopoietic, endocrine, renal, and reproductive systems. Lead exposure in young children is particularly hazardous because children absorb lead more readily than adults and many children who are exposed to lead do not exhibit any signs that they have the disease. Any signs or symptoms the child may have could be mistaken for other illnesses and the child goes undiagnosed. The developing nervous system of children is particularly more susceptible to the effects of lead. The underdeveloped blood-brain barrier in young children increases the risk of lead entering the developing nervous system resulting in neurobehavioral disorders. Blood lead levels (BLLs) as low as 10 mcg/dL have been shown to be associated with behavior and developmental deficit in children. Additional evidence has shown that lead is toxic at even lower levels than previously thought, making it increasingly important for childhood lead poisoning prevention education and awareness.

While all persons are exposed to lead in the environment, a significant source of lead exposure for some adults may be their workplace environment. Also, adults that are being exposed to lead at the workplace may bring home the leaded dust on their clothes, shoes, etc. and possibly expose other family members if precautionary measures are not taken.

Lead-contaminated water, soil, and paint have been recognized as potential sources of children's lead exposure. Dust from deteriorating lead-based paint is considered to be the largest contributor to the lead problem. Until the 1950s, many homes were covered inside and out with leaded paints. Lead began to fall from favor in the 1950s, but was still commonly used until it was banned from use in homes after 1977. Because of the long term use of lead-based paints, many homes in the United States contain surfaces with paint, which is now peeling, chalking, flaking, or wearing away. The dust or paint chips contain high levels of lead that easily find ways into the mouths of young children. A particular problem has emerged due to the large number of homes with lead-based paints which are now undergoing renovations. Often the dust created by this work has high lead levels which are readily absorbed by the children's developing bodies.

Another environmental source of lead in Utah, is household dust and soil containing particles of lead from mining waste. Communities built near or on mining and smelting waste piles, where children may play, is a significant source of lead exposure in children.

Healthy People 2010 Objective 8.11:

Elevated blood lead levels in children - 10 or more ug/dL (children aged 1 to 6 years)
U.S. Target for 2010: 0%
State Target for 2010: ZERO

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Department of Health Environmental Epidemiology Program (EEP) collaborates with clinical laboratories to report all blood lead tests conducted on Utah residents, either on a weekly or monthly basis, and if a child is identified with an elevated blood lead level (EBLL) the laboratory notifies either the EEP or local health department (LHD) to ensure timely reporting of the EBLL child. The EEP shares the data with all local health departments. The LHD assists the EEP by providing case management of children identified with an EBLL. Surveillance data is kept in the Utah Blood Lead Registry (UBLR), housed in the EEP. The analysis of the data helps in determining trends, prevalence of EBLL children, screening rates among specific high-risk populations, and areas identified high risk such as older housing and mining communities. The EEP program relies extensively on the LHDs to assist parents/guardians of children who need educational, medical, and environmental assessments. The LHD also serves as a repository of information collected from each EBLL child and provides assistance upon request.

Lead poisoning prevention educational materials are distributed from the EEP, LHDs, Baby Your Baby Program, Wee Care Program, Utah Department of Air Quality/Lead-Based Paint Program, Migrant Head Start Program, some physicians, and federal agencies such as: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, Housing and Urban Development, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Utah Administrative Code R386-703 (Injury Reporting Rule) establishes an injury surveillance and reporting system for major injuries occurring in Utah. Lead poisoning was added to the list of reportable injuries in 1990. Initially, under that rule, lead poisoning injuries were defined to include lead poisoning of all persons with whole blood lead concentrations >= 30 mcg/dL. In December 1991, the reportable level was lowered to >= 15 mcg/dL, and on January 1, 1997, the reportable level was lowered to >= 10 mcg/dL. The EEP receives reports of blood lead test results, which includes case name, age or birth date, sex, test date, blood lead level, and name of physician or agency.

The UBLR was established in 1990 by the Bureau of Epidemiology. In 1992, the Bureau received funding from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to expand the adult surveillance of blood lead poisoning and to analyze the epidemiology of adult lead poisoning in Utah. That funding created the ABLES project. In 1996 the Bureau received CDC funding to again expand the UBLR and to establish and develop the inclusion of children being tested for blood lead. The UBLR consists of a relational database with laboratory reports of blood lead test results. Prior to 1996 only blood lead test results reported by laboratories for adults with elevated levels were entered into the database. Since 1996, all blood lead test results reported by laboratories are entered into the database. The database is maintained by the EEP and entries are categorized for children and adults.

Available Services

The Utah Department of Health Environmental Epidemiology Program is available to answer questions about lead poisoning and provide educational material to the public. Contact your local health department or physician for a blood lead test.

If you have any questions please call the Utah Department of Health Blood Lead Program and ask for Mark Jones at (801) 538-6191.

More Information

Utah Department of Health/Environmental Epidemiology Program
http://health.utah.gov/epi/enviroepi/

Utah Department of Environmental Quality
www.deq.utah.gov/EQAIR/HAPS/lead/index.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/lead.htm

Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (HUD)
www.hud.gov/offices/lead/index.cfm

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
www.epa.gov/lead

Consumer Product Safety Commission (lead recalls in consumer products)
www.cpsc.gov

Other Program Information

To view "Utah's Childhood Blood Lead Screening Recommendations" go to EEP's website at: http://health.utah.gov/epi/enviroepi/ables98/child.htm. Also, for additional information about lead in toys and products visit the above website.



Related Indicators

Related IBIS-PH Indicator Profile Links for Relevant Population Characteristics:

Risk Factors

Major risk factors identified of children with an elevated blood lead level, in decreasing order include: older housing, eating dirt, hand to mouth activities, mining activities/contaminated soil from milling operations, parent's occupation/hobbies, consumer products, folk remedies, and children being exposed to lead prior to coming to the United States.




Graphical Data Views

Number of Pre-1950 Housing Units by County, 1990 vs. 2000

::chart - missing::


Year: 10 Year Intervals County Number of Housing Units Note
1990 Beaver 921 41.9%
1990 Box Elder 3,748 31.5%
1990 Cache 6,734 30.5%
1990 Carbon 3,341 38.4%
1990 Daggett 81 11.0%
1990 Davis 5,308 9.5%
1990 Duchesne 1,087 18.6%
1990 Emery 1,075 27.4%
1990 Garfield 945 38.0%
1990 Grand 364 12.2%
1990 Iron 1,668 19.6%
1990 Juab 1,132 49.0%
1990 Kane 463 14.3%
1990 Millard 1,645 39.9%
1990 Morgan 487 29.0%
1990 Piute 366 52.0%
1990 Rich 580 31.2%
1990 Salt Lake 50,920 19.8%
1990 San Juan 556 12.0%
1990 Sanpete 3,310 50.4%
1990 Sevier 2,286 37.7%
1990 Summit 1,493 13.3%
1990 Tooele 2,541 26.7%
1990 Uintah 1,255 15.4%
1990 Utah 15,632 21.5%
1990 Wasatch 1,346 30.2%
1990 Washington 1,821 9.3%
1990 Wayne 426 40.2%
1990 Weber 15,725 27.2%
2000 Beaver 804 30.2%
2000 Box Elder 3,856 27.1%
2000 Cache 6,227 21.5%
2000 Carbon 3,105 35.5%
2000 Daggett 83 7.7%
2000 Davis 5,249 7.1%
2000 Duchesne 899 12.9%
2000 Emery 935 22.8%
2000 Garfield 683 24.7%
2000 Grand 263 6.5%
2000 Iron 1,865 13.7%
2000 Juab 993 35.3%
2000 Kane 435 11.6%
2000 Millard 1,538 34.0%
2000 Morgan 466 21.6%
2000 Piute 322 43.2%
2000 Rich 375 15.6%
2000 Salt Lake 50,918 16.4%
2000 San Juan 522 9.6%
2000 Sanpete 3,191 40.5%
2000 Sevier 2,183 31.1%
2000 Summit 1,196 6.8%
2000 Tooele 2,195 15.9%
2000 Uintah 1,076 11.9%
2000 Utah 13,749 13.2%
2000 Wasatch 1,160 17.7%
2000 Washington 1,779 4.9%
2000 Wayne 372 28.0%
2000 Weber 14,107 20.0%
Record Count: 58

Data Sources

U.S. Bureau of the Census; 



Number of Children Living in Poverty by County, 1990 vs. 2000

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Year: 10 Year Intervals County Number of Children Note
1990 Beaver 90 18.8%
1990 Box Elder 419 9.1%
1990 Cache 1,233 13.8%
1990 Carbon 475 24.6%
1990 Daggett 19 26.0%
1990 Davis 2,408 10.1%
1990 Duchesne 446 27.5%
1990 Emery 154 13.0%
1990 Garfield 104 23.2%
1990 Grand 148 25.3%
1990 Iron 456 20.5%
1990 Juab 107 18.5%
1990 Kane 132 23.9%
1990 Millard 287 19.8%
1990 Morgan 61 9.7%
1990 Piute 43 38.7%
1990 Rich 30 13.6%
1990 Salt Lake 12,402 14.9%
1990 San Juan 785 45.9%
1990 Sanpete 424 25.4%
1990 Sevier 300 18.1%
1990 Summit 158 9.3%
1990 Tooele 603 21.2%
1990 Uintah 834 29.6%
1990 Utah 5,565 16.6%
1990 Wasatch 108 9.6%
1990 Washington 1,034 18.3%
1990 Wayne 43 19.0%
1990 Weber 2,715 15.8%
2000 Beaver 76 11.2%
2000 Box Elder 507 10.8%
2000 Cache 1,266 12.1%
2000 Carbon 333 18.1%
2000 Daggett 3 4.3%
2000 Davis 2,096 7.5%
2000 Duchesne 363 23.6%
2000 Emery 178 17.0%
2000 Garfield 55 11.5%
2000 Grand 198 26.9%
2000 Iron 804 21.6%
2000 Juab 105 9.6%
2000 Kane 53 10.6%
2000 Millard 252 21.1%
2000 Morgan 34 4.8%
2000 Piute 20 14.7%
2000 Rich 24 13.3%
2000 Salt Lake 10,120 10.6%
2000 San Juan 726 42.7%
2000 Sanpete 356 15.4%
2000 Sevier 314 15.9%
2000 Summit 181 6.9%
2000 Tooele 472 8.8%
2000 Uintah 532 20.7%
2000 Utah 4,802 10.2%
2000 Wasatch 120 7.3%
2000 Washington 1,736 17.7%
2000 Wayne 56 22.3%
2000 Weber 2,660 12.8%
Record Count: 58

Data Sources

U.S. Bureau of the Census; 



Prevalence of Children with Blood Lead Levels >= 10 mcg/dL, Utah Children Aged 0-5 Years, 1996-2006**

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Year Percentage of Children With an EBLL*
1996 4.0%
1997 3.8%
1998 1.2%
1999 1.8%
2000 1.7%
2001 1.7%
2002 1.2%
2003 1.2%
2004 1.4%
2005 1.8%
2006 1.5%
Record Count: 11

Data Notes

*EBLL = Elevated Blood Lead Level (>= 10 mcg/dL). **2006 = Provisional Data. Prevalence is calculated as (number of cases with an elevated blood lead level/number of persons tested) x 100. Prior to 1996, results on children were not collected, therefore, this calculation was not made for those years.

Data Sources

Utah Blood Lead Registry;  Environmental Epidemiology Program, Division of Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Utah Department of Health; 



Prevalence of Adults Tested, Utahns Aged 18 and Older, 1992-2005

::chart - missing::


Blood Lead >=25, >=40 Year Number of Cases per 100,000 Population
>=25 ug/dL 1992 12.2
>=25 ug/dL 1993 11.5
>=25 ug/dL 1994 9.9
>=25 ug/dL 1995 10.6
>=25 ug/dL 1996 5.7
>=25 ug/dL 1997 8.6
>=25 ug/dL 1998 7.1
>=25 ug/dL 1999 6.2
>=25 ug/dL 2000 3.1
>=25 ug/dL 2001 5.7
>=25 ug/dL 2002 4.1
>=25 ug/dL 2003 5.2
>=25 ug/dL 2004 2.9
>=25 ug/dL 2005 4.2
>=40 ug/dL 1992 4.6
>=40 ug/dL 1993 2.5
>=40 ug/dL 1994 2.2
>=40 ug/dL 1995 2.0
>=40 ug/dL 1996 1.1
>=40 ug/dL 1997 1.9
>=40 ug/dL 1998 2.0
>=40 ug/dL 1999 0.6
>=40 ug/dL 2000 0.4
>=40 ug/dL 2001 2.0
>=40 ug/dL 2002 0.7
>=40 ug/dL 2003 1.2
>=40 ug/dL 2004 0.7
>=40 ug/dL 2005 1.2
Record Count: 28

Data Notes

Prevalence is calculated as (number of cases with an elevated blood lead level/number of individuals employed in non-agricultural jobs) x 100,000. Prevalence for 1997 was re-calculated based on final population data. 1998 employment data is estimated from the growth rate during the previous year.

Data Sources

Utah Blood Lead Registry;  Environmental Epidemiology Program, Division of Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Utah Department of Health; 

Page Content Updated On 04/15/08, Published on 04/24/08
Environmental Epidemiology Program, Office of Epidemiology, Division of Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2104, Telephone: 801-538-6191, Fax: 801-538-6564, Website: health.utah.gov/els/epidemiology/envepi, Contact: Sam LeFevre, Email: slefevre@utah.gov
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health's Center for Health Data IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.utah.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: "Retrieved Mon, 08 September 2008 10:12:52 from Utah Department of Health, Center for Health Data, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.utah.gov".

Content updated: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:06:28 MDT