PHY4.A Lead in the blood of children: Selected blood lead levels of children ages 1–5, selected years 1976–1980 through 2013–2018

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Characteristic 1976–1980 1988–1994 1999–2002 2003–2006 2007–2010 2013–2018
Percent of children with blood lead level = 5 µg/dL 99.8 25.6 8.6 4.1 2.6 0.8
50th percentile (µg/dL) 15.0 3.0 1.9 1.6 1.3 0.7
95th percentile (µg/dL) 29.0 10.8 6.3 4.6 3.9 2.3
NOTE: The reference level of 5 µg/dL was the 97.5th percentile of blood lead levels for children ages 1–5 in 2005–2008. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently use this reference level to identify children with elevated blood lead levels.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

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