An elevated blood lead level is when lead in the blood is measured at or above the blood lead reference value (BLRV) defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BLRV identifies children with higher levels of lead in their blood than most children. The BLRV is not a health-based value. It is a screening tool to identify children who need public health services and medical evaluation. There is no safe level of lead in the blood.

In 2012, the CDC adopted the BLRV of 5 µg/dL; accordingly, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) defined an elevated blood lead level in Michigan as 5 µg/dL or greater (including results 4.5-4.9 rounded up). On May 1, 2022, MDHHS changed the definition of elevated blood lead level to 3.5 µg/dL or greater, based on an updated BLRV from CDC in 2021.

Elevated blood lead data are available for 2010-2022 on the MiTracking Data Portal by:

• 3.5 µg/ dL (new BLRV definition adopted May 1, 2022).
• 5 µg/ dL (previous BLRV and includes results for 4.5-4.9).

 Learn more about lead at Blood Lead Testing.

Lead can be found in all parts of the environment, including homes. Learn more about lead sources, go to Mi Lead Safe - Learn about Lead

Those at highest risk of being exposed to lead are:

• People who live in homes built before 1978, especially children.
• People with pica.
• People who have jobs or hobbies working with lead.
• People who live in homes that may have one of the following:
  • Lead or galvanized plumbing.
  • A lead service line carrying water from the street to their residence.
  • Old faucets and fittings that were sold before 2014.

Learn more about exposure risk factors for lead at Lead and Your Health.

Lead exposure can cause health problems in children. Learn more about the health effects of lead at Mi Lead Safe - Learn about lead.

A blood lead test can tell you if you or your loved ones have recent or ongoing exposures to lead. Learn about blood lead testing at Mi Lead Safe Blood Lead Testing.

Childhood Lead Exposure MiTracking Indicators

• Annual blood lead levels.
• Blood lead levels by birth year.
• Age of housing.

Data Can Tell Us

• The number and percent of children tested for blood lead and among those tested, the number and percent with BLLs equal to or above:
  • 3.5 µg/dL (new BLRV definition adopted May 1, 2022).
  • 5 µg/dL (previous BLRV and includes results of 4.5-4.9).
• Data are available by year, county, zip code, age group and test type.

Data Cannot Tell Us

• The total number of children affected by lead exposure.
• The cost, effect, result or consequence of lead exposure.
• Source of lead exposure.
• When lead exposure occurred.

Find Out More

Surveillance data from MDHHS Data Warehouse were used to create this dataset through a Data Sharing Agreement with the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP). To find more information about blood lead data, visit:

• About These Data (found on the data portal after a query search).
• Metadata (Technical information about the content, quality, and context of the data):
  • Annual Blood Lead Levels.
  • Blood Lead Levels by Birth Cohort.

Tutorial

• Childhood Lead Data
  • Video (Time 9:35)
  • Transcript

MDHHS

How Lead Gets into Drinking Water (video)

Lead in Drinking Water Safety Tips (video)

Mi Lead Safe

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention

National Environmental Public Health Tracking (CDC Tracking)

• Childhood Lead Poisoning
• Data Explorer

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Lead

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH)