TABLE 2.

Summary of children’s health effects by blood lead level.

Blood Lead Level	Sufficient Evidence or Causal Determination of Children’s Health Effects
Below 5 µg/dL	Nervous System Effects:
	Cognitive function: decreases in IQ, academic achievement, specific cognitive measures
	Externalizing behaviors: Increased incidence of attention-related and problem behaviors
5–10 µg/dL	Effects listed above plus
	Nervous System Effects: decreased auditory function
	Reproductive and Developmental Effects: reduced postnatal growth, delayed puberty for girls and boys
10–44 µg/dL	Effects listed above plus
	Nervous System Effects: slower nerve conduction
	Hematologic Effects: decreased hemoglobin, anemia
45–69 µg/dL	Effects listed above plus
	Gastrointestinal Effects: abdominal pain, constipation, colic, anorexia and vomiting
Above 70 µg/dL	Effects listed above plus
	Nervous System Effects: severe neural effects including convulsions, coma, loss of voluntary muscle control, and death

Data from President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children, Key Federal Programs to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Eliminate Associated Health Impacts Report.²¹