Definition

Children can be given a blood test to measure the level of lead in their blood. If a venous blood lead level is at or above 5 ug/dL it is an elevated blood lead indicative of lead poisoning. The estimated number of children with a blood lead level ≥5 ug/dL is the number with confirmed tests plus 38% of the children with unconfirmed 5-<10 ug/dL tests. The percent of lead poisoning reflects the number of children in the county ages birth to age 36 months with elevated blood lead levels among the number screened.

Data Source

Maine Center for Disease Control, Maine Tracking Network

Notes

The latest federal CDC guidelines reduced the blood reference value (BLRV)—the measure used to determine when interventions are needed—from 5 μg/dL to 3.5 μg/dL as even lower levels are now understood as unsafe, however, the data posted to the Maine Tracking Network through 2022 does not yet incorporate this new lower threshold. FMI see:  Federal CDC blood level reference value.

Last Updated

2025-02