Do US Ambient Air Lead Levels Have a Significant Impact on Childhood Blood Lead Levels: Results of a National Study

. Although lead paint and leaded gasoline have not been used in the US for thirty years, thousands of US children continue to have blood lead levels (BLLs) of concern. Methods . We investigated the potential association of modeled air lead levels and BLLs ≥ 10  μ g/dL using a large CDC database with BLLs on children aged 0–3 years. Percent of children with BLLs ≥ 10  μ g/dL (2000–2007) by county and proportion of pre-50 housing and SES variables were merged with the US EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) modeled air lead data. Results . The proportion with BLL ≥ 10  μ g/dL was 1.24% in the highest air lead counties, and the proportion with BLL ≥ 10  μ g/dL was 0.36% in the lowest air lead counties, resulting in a crude prevalence ratio of 3.4. Further analysis using multivariate negative binomial regression revealed that NATA lead was a significant predictor of % BLL ≥ 10  μ g/dL after controlling for percent pre-l950 housing, percent rural, and percent black. A geospatial regression revealed that air lead, percent older housing, and poverty were all significant predictors of % BLL ≥ 10  μ g/dL. Conclusions . More emphasis should be given to potential sources of ambient air lead near residential areas.