Childhood lead poisoning in Baltimore City — submitted by Sean Stewart

On June 12, 2008 the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) released its annual report on Childhood Blood Level Surveillance. In 2007, 624 children or 3.5% of the 17,667 children aged 0-72 months tested in Baltimore City had elevated blood lead levels (at least 10 micrograms per deciliter). This represents a decrease from 843 children or 4.6% of the children tested in 2006. It is worth noting that the percentage of children tested represents only 32% of the city's total children in this age bracket, and that this percentage of tested children has been in a general decrease over the period of 2000-2007.

In addition, despite the general decrease from 2006 to 2007 in the percentage of tested Baltimore City children with elevated blood levels, there was an increase during that same period from 69 to 85 children with lead levels over 20 micrograms per deciliter, a level indicating a need to be screened for lead poisoning. This increase in children with higher blood lead levels combined with a decrease in percentage of tested children indicates that the work to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Baltimore City is far from done.

To read the full report and to view related MDE reports:

http://www.mde.state.md.us/Programs/LandPrograms/LeadCoordination/health...