What is Lead?
Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. It was mined in Wisconsin and added as a stabilizing agent to products like:
- Gasoline
- Paint
- Plastics
- Varnish
What is lead poisoning?
In 1978, lead was banned from being added to paint and varnish for residential use because researchers found it can be toxic to humans and animals. It can damage the brain and other systems, leading to:
- Developmental delays.
- Learning disabilities.
- Reduced IQ and attention span.
- A range of other health and behavioral effects.
Lead is still present in paint and varnish in homes and child care centers built before 1978 and can be harmful. While it can hurt anyone, kids under age 6 are most vulnerable to lead poisoning, and the damage can last a lifetime.
How does lead poison?
Lead poisoning occurs in a few common ways:
- Lead-tainted dust can get on children’s hands and into their mouths. This can happen because chipping and peeling lead-based paint in older homes is ground to a very fine dust and largely invisible. It can gather in windows, on floors, porches, and in the soil.
- Lead-based paint can be disturbed during renovations or remodeling. If the work is not conducted safely, the lead fumes and dust in the air can be inhaled or ingested by people in the area.
- Lead can also be found in:
- Drinking water service lines and fixtures.
- Soil from leaded gasoline.
- Paint and industrial emissions.
- Products such as toys, children’s jewelry, candies, and traditional remedies, like powders for arthritis.
Lower blood lead reference value
In 2021, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) updated the blood lead reference value to 3.5 µg/dL. This level helps public health authorities identify children with higher levels of lead in their blood compared to most children. The value was previously 5 µg/dL.
Find data on childhood lead poisoning in Wisconsin based on the blood lead reference value.
Find health care guidance for lead-poisoned children.
How can we prevent lead poisoning?
We can prevent lead poisoning by getting rid of the danger before it harms children or others. Wisconsin’s goal is to eliminate the disease by making houses lead-safe, and by getting involved early to stop lead exposure.
Learn about lead-safe renovation in Wisconsin
Brain development
Lead poisoning in children can result in delays in growth, behavior, and learning, which can impact success in school.
Studies have found it can cause:
School performance and behavior
Lead poisoning in children can cause academic and behavioral problems. These children can exhibit impulsivity, aggression, and short attention span.
Every child exposed to lead should be screened for harmful neurocognitive effects. This can help determine which interventions may be necessary.
Studies have found lead poisoning can cause academic setbacks, including:
- Lower math and reading test scores.
- Lower reading readiness.
- Lower end-of-year test scores.
- A decreased chance of being placed in an advanced or intellectually gifted program and an increased chance of having a learning disability.
- A nearly tripled risk of school suspension in the fourth grade when exposed to lead before age 3.
- Lower state test scores in the fourth grade when exposed to lead before age 6.
- Lower proficiency in math, science, and reading in third, fifth, and eighth grades.
- Lower test scores in eighth grade.
Other studies have found it can cause behavioral issues, such as an increased risk of:
- Anxiety, depression, and aggression.
- Being arrested for a violent crime.
- Cognitive problems, and disorders such as hyperactivity and impulsivity.
- Developing ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), experiencing teen pregnancy, and engaging in criminal behavior.
- Developing depression and panic attacks.
- Displaying violent behavior.
- Engaging in criminal behavior later in life.
- Showing aggressive behavior in the classroom.
Lifelong health
Lead poisoning in children can harm these bodily systems:
- Cardiovascular
- Cognitive
- Endocrine
- Immune
- Musculoskeletal
Studies have found it can cause:
Reproductive health
Lead poisoning in children can harm reproduction in both men and women.
Studies have found it can cause:
- Delayed puberty onset in girls ages 8 to 18.
- Increased risk of spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, and low birth weight.
- Reproductive disorders, including testicular dysfunction in men and hypertension in women during pregnancy.
More resources
- 2016 Report on Childhood Lead Poisoning in Wisconsin, P-01202-16 (PDF)
- Blood Lead Levels in Children (PDF)
- Childhood Lead Poisoning: What You Should Know About Your Child’s Blood Lead Test Results (PDF)
- Developmental Surveillance and Screening of Infants and Young Children
- Educational Interventions for Children Affected by Lead (PDF)
- Guidelines for the Identification and Management of Lead Exposure in Pregnant and Lactating Women (PDF)
- In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development
- Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future, P-00554-2016 (PDF)
- Look Out for Lead – Parents, P-44535A (PDF) (English and Spanish)
- Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children: A Renewed Call for Primary Prevention (PDF)
Reliable sources for more information
- CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Spanish version)
- Local public health departments
- Local WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) clinics
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Spanish version)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Spanish version)
