Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council makes move to protect more children from lead poisoning.

Greater Cleveland is one of the first communities in the nation to lower the current threshold of lead poisoning from 10 micrograms to 5.

Rashmi Aparajit, Lead program manager at the Cincinnati health department says they lowered their threshold to 5 micrograms in March of this year. The the state of Vermont also lowered its concern level to 5.

The CDC defines lead poisoning by the amount found in a child's blood. It's measured in micrograms per tenth of a liter. Since 1990 the federal level for what's considered lead poisoning has been 10.

By lowering the level, suburban kids, once considered safe, may now be at risk.

The change would mean that nearly 6,500 children in Cleveland and an additional 1,500 in the rest of the county are being poisoned by lead. However, this may be underestimated because so many suburban children are not tested.

Dr. Ash Seghal, Co-Medical director for the Cleveland Department of Health says medical evidence shows that even low levels of lead can cause low IQ, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, behavioral problems, stunted growth, impaired hearing and kidney damage. High levels (higher than 10) can lead to mental retardation, coma and death.

The Cleveland Department of Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Shaker Heights Health Department and Lakewood Health Department jointly sent out a letter to 1,200 pediatricians asking them to lead test children between ages one and four.

Parents of children found to have levels between five and nine will receive educational materials about lead exposure and avoidance. It will be recommended the child be re-tested within 2 to 3 months and the parents will receive social services regarding home lead assessment if necessary.

For more information call 216 263 LEAD.