Data Sources:

• Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Childhood Lead Program (screening data for Franklin county and Ohio cities)

Definitions:

• Elevated blood level: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines define elevated blood levels of lead as over 10 micrograms/deciliter (ug/dL).
• Lead-based paint: Paint used in homes prior to 1979, which over time can chip and crack, causing environmental contamination and health problems for residents

Explanations and Caveats:

• Franklin County children in families applying for Medicaid are required to have blood lead screening. In addition, the Ohio Department of Health recommends screening for children age 6 to 36 months of age living in high-risk zip codes with concentrations of low-income households or housing units built before 1950.
• Beginning in 1995, Ohio law requires that all laboratories doing blood lead screening in the state must report the test results, no matter what the level, to the Ohio Department of Health.
• The Ohio Department of Health reports that high lead exposure in children (>/=80 ug/dL) can cause coma, convulsions, and death. Lower levels cause adverse effects in the central nervous system and kidneys. Blood levels as low as 10ug/dL, which do not cause distinctive symptoms, are associated with decreased intelligence, impaired neurobehavioral development, and decreased stature or slow growth.

Update Status:
August 2011