Blood lead levels among high-risk children, Detroit, Michigan

Since 1972, a federally funded lead screening program has been operational in Detroit, Michigan. Blood lead screening data (27,430 initial tests on Black children less than or equal to 6 years) were assigned by census tract of child's residence to one of the 15 socioeconomically similar areas in geographic proximity to one another. Higher blood lead levels were associated with lower education, lower income, and increased proportion of single parent families. This emphasizes the need to continue screening efforts in lower socioeconomic areas with older housing.