Blood lead levels above 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood is the reference level at which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends public health actions be initiated. Lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the body. Because lead poisoning often occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and, at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even death. No safe blood lead level has been identified. The major sources of lead exposure among U.S. children are lead based paint and lead-contaminated dust found in deteriorating buildings.
Blood lead levels are monitored to prevent and mitigate lead exposure
In 2022, the rate per 100,000 of Lead Poisoning in Alachua County was 3.8 compared to Florida at 12.2. The line graph shows change over time when there are at least three years of data.
Alachua County is in the second quartile for this measure. This means that relative to other counties in Florida, there are more Lead Poisoning in about half of the counties, and less in about one quarter of the counties.
The map illustrates county data by quartile. A quartile map is presented when there are at least 51 counties with data for this measure.
FLHealthCHARTS.gov is provided by the Florida Department of Health, Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management.
Data Source: Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology
Chart will display if there are at least three years of data.
Multi-year counts are a sum of the selected years, not an average.
Quartiles are calculated when data is available for at least 51 counties.
MOV - Measure of Variability: Probable range of values resulting from random fluctuations in the number of events. Not calculated when numerator is below 5 or denominator is below 20, or count or rate is suppressed. The MOV is useful for comparing rates to a goal or standard. For example, if the absolute difference between the county rate and the statewide rate is less than the MOV, the county rate is not significantly different from the statewide rate (alpha level = 0.05). When the absolute difference between the county rate and the statewide rate is greater than the MOV, the county rate is significantly different from the statewide rate. MOV should not be used to determine if the rates of two different counties, or the county rates for two different years, are statistically significantly different.
Denom - abbreviated for Denominator.
Population estimates are not available for persons whose county of residence is unknown. Given this, the denominator and associated rate are not available.
* - Indicates the county rate is statistically significantly different from the statewide rate.