Figure 12: Incidence Rates of Blood Lead Levels ≥ 10 mcg/dL by Age Among Children Under Age Six Years; 1998 to 2007 Blood Lead Test Data1, New York State Excluding New York City
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Figure 12 shows the incidence rate of lead poisoning, expressed as the number of children in each age group newly identified with BLLs ≥ 10 mcg/dL per 1,000 children tested, by age category (0 - < 9 months, 9 months - < 18 months, 18 months - < 36 months and 36 months - < 72 months) for each year from 1998 to 2007. This analysis was conducted to assess differences in the incidence of lead poisoning among young children of different ages, and how those differences may be changing over time.
Overall, the incidence rate of lead poisoning has declined over time in all age groups defined. These declines are most striking among children aged one year (9 months - < 18 months), two years (18 months - < 36 months) and three years to six years (36 months - < 72 months), while the rate of incidence among children under age one year (0 - < 9 months) has been more stable.
The highest rate of incidence of new cases of BLLs ≥ 10 mcg/dL occurred among children at or around age one year (9 months - < 18 months) in all years since 1999. The rate of incidence is lower among children aged at or around age two years (18 months - < 36 months) and among children aged three to six years (36 months - < 72 months). Although the total number of children under age one identified each year with EBLLs is relatively low (See Figure 11), the percent of children in this age group tested for lead who have elevated results ≥ 10 mcg/dL is close to that of children at or around age one year in most other years.
| Year of Test | Incidence Rates by Age of Children with Blood Lead Levels ≥ 10 mcg/dL | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - < 9 Months | 9 - < 18 Months | 18 - < 36 Months | 36 - < 72 Months | |
| 1998 | 9.3 | 24.1 | 40.9 | 25.4 |
| 1999 | 22.5 | 29.5 | 24.2 | 19.4 |
| 2000 | 25.3 | 25.6 | 19.0 | 11.1 |
| 2001 | 18.6 | 23.7 | 16.4 | 9.1 |
| 2002 | 18.9 | 24.6 | 13.4 | 6.8 |
| 2003 | 18.8 | 22.1 | 13.0 | 6.1 |
| 2004 | 17.9 | 18.4 | 12.4 | 6.2 |
| 2005 | 16.7 | 17.1 | 10.2 | 5.0 |
| 2006 | 13.5 | 15.6 | 8.3 | 4.1 |
| 2007 | 13.8 | 14.6 | 6.8 | 3.4 |
Footnotes
- Incidence Rate: The number of children under age six years identified for the first time with confirmed elevated blood lead levels divided by the number of children under age six that had screening tests in that given year, multiplied by 1,000.