What does this measure?
The number of children under age 6 with blood lead levels 10 micrograms per deciliter or higher as a proportion of those tested within the year (either with a finger stick or venous blood screening). Only children who did not previously have an elevated blood lead level are included in this measure.
Why is this important?
Exposure to lead, even small amounts, significantly increases a child's risk of developing long-lasting cognitive, physiological and behavioral problems.
How is Westchester County performing?
In 2020, 0.2% of children tested in Westchester County had elevated blood lead levels, a decline of 70% since 2007. Westchester County's rate is slightly lower than the national rate of 0.4% (from 2018, the last year national data was available), on par with the statewide and Rockland County rates, and slightly higher than the Putnam and Nassau rates of 0.1% for both.
Notes about the data
It is important to note that not all children are tested for lead, despite a state law requiring them to be tested. Statewide, about two-thirds of children are tested between 9 and 18 months of age.
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westchester County | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Nassau County | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Putnam County | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Rockland County | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| New York State | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
Notes: Proportion of all children under 6 screened in a year and found to have elevated blood lead levels. Only children not previously identified with elevated lead levels are included.
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westchester County | 151 | 100 | 93 | 112 | 108 | 84 | 152 | 103 | 55 | 72 | 104 | 70 | 66 | 46 |
| Nassau County | 90 | 68 | 83 | 67 | 49 | 55 | 67 | 53 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 46 | 47 | 33 |
| Putnam County | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Rockland County | 32 | 27 | 34 | 31 | 37 | 22 | 50 | 39 | 11 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 16 | 15 |
| New York State | 3,539 | 3,010 | 2,717 | 2,947 | 2,575 | 2,355 | 3,205 | 2,642 | 1,787 | 1,919 | 2,087 | 1,772 | 1,884 | 1,365 |
Notes: Number of all children under 6 screened in a year and found to have elevated blood lead levels. Only children not previously identified with elevated lead levels are included.
| INDICATORS | TREND | WESTCHESTER |
|---|
