Did you know lead testing is crucial for children?

Background on Lead Use in the U.S.

Lead is a naturally occurring metal known for being malleable, not easily corroded, and has a low melting point. In the past, lead was used extensively in many household items. Some of these include paint, pipes, crystal/glass, and batteries. It was quite common to use lead in paint because it not only helps the paint dry quicker, but also resists moisture, increases durability, and provides pigment. 

During the 1940s to 60s, there were various studies being done on the long-term effects of lead poisoning in children. Dr. Herbert Needleman built upon these studies in the 1970s when he examined the lead content in children's teeth and found a link where children with a higher content of lead in their teeth scored poorly on IQ tests and had behavioral issues. It was due to these studies that the government started to phase out the use of lead, such as in 1978 when the federal government banned the residential use of lead paint.

Lead’s Effect on Health

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains that there is no safe level of lead in a child's blood.

Since a child’s body is still developing, there are many negative effects that can occur in a child with lead poisoning. Some of these effects include, but are not limited to:

• • • Developmental delays
    • Behavioral problems
    • Brain damage
    • Nervous system damage

For these reasons, it is most important that parents get their young children tested when they are supposed to. In New Jersey, children must be tested before age two and if they have not been tested by this age, then they must be tested before age six. Children can, of course, be tested at other ages as well if it is suspected that they may be experiencing lead poisoning. In New Jersey, insurance companies are required to cover the costs of blood lead testing in children 17 years and younger. Children can get tested at their doctor's office or their health care provider may provide a prescription to get tested at a lab.

How are Children Getting Exposed to Lead?

There are a few ways children may be exposed to lead. Exposure has often occurred from living in an older home that at some point may have been painted with paint including lead. When older paint chips off from the walls, sometimes young children put these paint chips into their mouths. Another way of exposure is simply through breathing toxic dust, which is what lead paint chips become when they break down. Children may also be exposed by way of drinking water if the pipes are made of lead, which can leach into the water as seen in Flint, Michigan and in Newark, New Jersey.

What Does the Data Show?

In 2022, an estimated 39% of N.J. children between six months and 26 months were tested for lead while about 1.6% tested positive for elevated blood lead levels. In the same year, an estimated 23% of N.J. children under age six were tested for lead and of these children, 1.9% had elevated blood lead levels. Counties that have higher percentages of children testing with elevated levels of lead in blood (EBLL) for both age groups are Cumberland, Mercer, and Essex. These counties also have higher estimated children living below the federal poverty level. Children who are in homes built before 1978 and are low-income are more likely to experience lead exposure. In 2022, 20% of Cumberland’s, 21% of Essex’s, and 14% of Mercer’s children were living below the federal poverty level (for full table, see County Pocket Guide 2024). In addition to this, in each of these counties, more than 60% of the homes were built before 1980. Essex has the highest percentage at 75%.