On this page: About the National Data | Methodology | History
About the National Data
Data
Baseline: 2.75 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) was the concentration level of lead in blood samples at which 95 percent of the population aged 1 year and over was at or below in 2015-16
Target: 1.74 µg/dL
Methodology
Methodology notes
Blood lead measurement is the preferred method of evaluating lead exposure and its human health effects. Blood lead levels reflect both recent intake and equilibration with stored lead in other tissues, particularly in the skeleton. Urine levels may reflect recently absorbed lead, though there is greater individual variation in urine lead than in blood and greater potential for contamination.
Reference: CDC Biomonitoring Summary for Lead
History
In 2021 the baseline and numerator text was revised to reflect that this objective is based on measurements in individuals 1 year of age and older.
1. Because Healthy People 2030 objectives have a desired direction (e.g., increase or decrease), the confidence level of a one-sided prediction interval can be used as an indication of how likely a target will be to achieve based on the historical data and fitted trend.