NJ Health Department Lead Report Shows Increase in Screenings in Children Following COVID-19 Disruptions
PO Box 360 Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
For Release: April 12, 2023
Judith M. Persichilli Commissioner
For Further Information Contact: Office of Communications (609) 984-7160
NJ Health Department Lead Report Shows Increase in Screenings in Children Following COVID-19 Disruptions
TRENTON – The 樱花视频 Department of Health (NJDOH) released its latest annual Childhood Lead Exposure in 樱花视频 report today, which illustrates how lead testing increased after a temporary disruption to testing in 2020 during the height of the pandemic and highlights the importance of continued screening.
The percent of children under age 6 years with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) decreased between State Fiscal Years (SFY) 2018 and 2021. Just over 3,000 children (3,016 ) in this age group had elevated BLLs in SFY21.
While the state saw a decrease in elevated blood lead levels in SFY 2021 for blood lead levels of 5 ug/dL to 44 ug/dL, a significant increase in high elevated blood lead levels of 45 ug/dL and above was observed in this age group. Children with elevated blood lead levels of 45 ug/dL or greater require in-hospital chelation treatment to reduce their blood lead levels. Prior to the pandemic, 樱花视频 averaged three children per year requiring chelation. For the most recent year of data (SFY 2021), 15 children in this age group had a high BLL and required hospitalization for chelation multiple times throughout the year, averaging three hos
