The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have lowered their level of concern for children’s blood lead levels to 10 mcg./dl. (Dl. is the abbreviation for deciliter.)

Canfield, et al, demonstrated that a 10 mcg./dl. increase in lead levels below the 10 mcg./dl. level results in a reduction of I.Q. of 7.4. Above the 10 mcg./dl. level, a 10 mcg./dl. increase in lead level results in a 4.6 point decrease in I.Q., only.

In a study of 198 children lead levels were determined in children at intervals up to the age of 5 years. The blood levels of one group of children never went above 10 mcg./dl

Lead is neurotoxic, especially in young children, and the symptoms of lead toxicity are impaired intellectual ability and abnormal behavior. The authors used the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Score to evaluate I.Q.. Lead is a risk factor for delinquency, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and dental problems.

CONCLUSION: Children may be more seriously effected by lead toxicity than previously suspected. The children with blood levels below the CDC accepted levels seemed to suffer more I.Q. loss than children above the CDC accepted level. Also, “…there may be no threshold for the adverse consequences of lead exposure…”

NOTE: Products which have been shown to help remove lead from the body include Plumbum metallicum homeopathic and chelating agents. These products were not listed in this article.

The results of this study are surprising and may be due to hormesis, which shows that the effects of chemicals vary at different concentrations. The authors state that the results may be due to the high levels of heavy metal required to stimulate the body’s defense systems that protect us from neurotoxicity.

Read the effects of environmental lead in adults, causing symptoms of gout.

PMID: 12700371.

Summary #192.