J Environ Public Health

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.|We investigated the potential association of modeled air lead levels and BLLs 65 10 \u3bc g/dL using a large CDC database with BLLs on children aged 0-3 years. Percent of children with BLLs 65 10 \u3bc 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.|The proportion with BLL 65 10 \u3bc g/dL was 1.24% in the highest air lead counties, and the proportion with BLL 65 10 \u3bc 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 65 10 \u3bc 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 65 10 \u3bc g/dL.|More emphasis should be given to potential sources of ambient air lead near residential areas.2013859