Exposure of the US population to lead, 1991-1994

Blood lead measurements were obtained on 13,642 persons aged 1 year and old er who participated in Phase 2 of the Third National Health and Nutrition E xamination Survey (NHANES III) from 1991 through 1994. NHANES III is a nati onal representative survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. popul ation. The overall mean blood lead level for the U.S. population aged 1 yea r and older was 2.3 mu g/dl, with 2.2% of the population having levels grea ter than or equal to 10 mu g/dl, the level of health concern for children. Among U.S. children aged 1-5 years, the mean blood lead level was 2.7 mu g/ dl, and 890,000 of these children (4.4%) had elevated blood lead levels. So ciodemographic factors associated with higher blood lead levels in children were non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, low income, and residence in older housing. The prevalence of elevated blood lead levels was 21.9% among non- Hispanic black children living in homes built before 1946 and 16.4% among c hildren in low-income families who lived in homes built before 1946. Blood lead levels continue to decline in the U.S. population, but 890,000 childre n still have elevated levels. Public health efforts have been successful in removing lead from population-wide sources such as gasoline and lead-solde red food and drink cans, but nem efforts must address the difficult problem of leaded paint, especially in older houses, as well as lead in dust and s oil. Lead poisoning prevention programs should target high-risk persons, su ch as children who live in old homes, children of minority groups, and chil dren living in families with low income.