News and Features

Lead and Chromium Poisoning Outbreak Linked to Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches – CDC and FDA are working together with our state and local public health partners to collect case data for an ongoing investigation into a food recall of lead-contaminated apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW), October 22-28, 2023 – Bringing together individuals, organizations, industry, and state, tribal, and local governments to increase lead poisoning prevention awareness in an effort to reduce childhood exposure to lead.

The Importance of Childhood Blood Lead Testing – This video provides a brief overview of why it is important to protect young children from lead exposure and the importance of blood lead testing.

Lead Poisoning Prevention Training Videos – These videos provide a brief overview of what lead is, where it is found and why it is important to protect young children from its exposure and is designed for high school and general audiences.

Notice of Funding Opportunity: Supporting Communities to Reduce Lead Poisoning – The National Center for Environmental Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is pleased to announce a new Notice of Funding Opportunity, Supporting Communities to Reduce Lead Poisoning (CDC-RFA-EH-23-005). Applications are due by July 31, 2023, at 11:59pm Eastern Time.

CDC Call for Papers for a Potential Pediatrics Supplement – CDC requests submission of manuscripts for a potential supplemental issue of Pediatrics.

HRSA-CDC Letter on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Blood Lead Testing [PDF – 213 KB] – In a joint letter, HRSA and CDC provide information for healthcare providers regarding childhood lead poisoning prevention and blood lead testing.

Ubiquitous Lead – Epidemiology, Prevention-Mitigation Programs and Emerging Sources of Exposure – Lead Poisoning Prevention and Surveillance Branch (proposed) and American Journal of Public Health publish supplemental journal issue.

Blood Lead Collection Tube Shortage – Information about the shortage of blood specimen collection tubes.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW), October 23-29, 2022 – Bringing together individuals, organizations, industry, and state, tribal, and local governments to increase lead poisoning prevention awareness in an effort to reduce childhood exposure to lead.

Know the Facts – Facts and information on lead poisoning prevention. (Printable PDFs in English [PDF – 977 KB] and en Español [PDF – 1 MB])

Fact Sheet: All Children Can Be Exposed to Lead – Real-world examples of situations where children have been exposed to lead. (Printable PDF [PDF – 1 MB])

Fact Sheet: Blood Lead Levels in Children [PDF – 100 KB] – Fact sheet with information on blood lead levels in children.

CDC Updates Blood Lead Reference Value to 3.5 μg/dL – Information for CDC partners for implementing 3.5 μg/dL as the updated CDC Blood Lead Reference Value

Press Release: CDC Updates Blood Lead Reference Value for Children – CDC uses a blood lead reference value (BLRV) of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to identify children with blood lead levels that are higher than most children’s levels.

CDC Environmental Health NEXUS Webinar: Commemorating 30 years of CDC’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) – A live virtual commemoration of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) 30th Anniversary.

Expansion of Recall of LeadCare® Blood Lead Tests Due to Risk of Falsely Low Results – Information about the expansion of Magellan Diagnostics’ recall of LeadCare® II, LeadCare® Plus, and LeadCare® Ultra Blood Lead Tests.

Potential Shortage of Test Kits Following Recall – CDC strongly recommends that healthcare providers not delay required blood lead testing for children. 

Childhood Lead Exposure in the United States: CDC’s Role in Prevention, Education, and Surveillance – Subject matter experts from CDC discuss sources of lead in children’s environments, populations at higher risk, current trends among children in the U.S., prevention strategies, and current initiatives at CDC.

Recall of LeadCare® Lead Tests Due to Risk of Falsely Low Results – Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network.

CDC Confirms Succimer Drug Shortage – Information about a shortage of the medication used for the chelation of lead.

AJPH Call for Papers – “Ubiquitous Lead: Risks, prevention-mitigation programs and emerging sources of exposure.”

Sustainability of Funding Toolkit for Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs [PDF – 1 MB] – Overview of sources of funding and revenue streams available to state childhood lead poisoning prevention programs and strategies for sustainability planning.

Notice of Funding Opportunity: CDC-RFA-EH21-2102 – Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Surveillance of Blood Lead Levels in Children (Project period: September 30, 2021 to September 29, 2026). Application Due Date: May 14, 2021.

Are You Pregnant? – Fact sheet with information on lead poisoning prevention for pregnant women. (Printable PDFs in English [PDF – 2 MB] and en Español [PDF – 2 MB])

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) 30th Anniversary – CLPPP commemorates 30 years of funding state and local childhood lead poisoning prevention programs.