How much lead is safe in a child? What amount of lead is considered lead poisoning?
There is no single number above which a child has “lead poisoning” and below which is safe. So far as we know, no amount of lead in the human body is “safe” or “normal”. Unlike other natural minerals, such as zinc and iron, that are necessary for our bodies to function properly, but are toxic in high doses, lead has no natural function in the human body. However, scientists have been able to detect problems in children only at lead levels above 10 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dL) in the blood. Blood lead levels between 10 and 19 are considered borderline, and the child retested every few months to insure that it does not go up. In New Jersey, any blood lead level of 20 or more is considered significant, and must be reported to the state health department. Levels above 45 are considered especially dangerous and need immediate attention of a doctor. A level of 70 or more is considered an emergency, requiring hospitalization.
