Children & Youth
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels

Using the charts: Items in the legend below the chart can be clicked on and off to aid in analysis. The chart can also be printed or exported as an image or document using the menu at the top right of the chart. See a Guide to the Westchester Index Website for more information.





Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York State Department of Health

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.

Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels
20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Westchester County0.6%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 County0.3%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 County0.3%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 County0.4%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 State0.7%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%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York State Department of Health
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.




Number of Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels
20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Westchester County15110093112108841521035572104706646
Nassau County9068836749556753263030464733
Putnam County53211213105372
Rockland County3227343137225039111925241615
New York State3,5393,0102,7172,9472,5752,3553,2052,6421,7871,9192,0871,7721,8841,365

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York State Department of Health
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
Early Prenatal Care, by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels 0
Maintaining
Children Receiving Subsidized Child Care 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Disengaged Youth, Ages 16 to 19 -1
Decreasing
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Single Female-Headed Households -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 1
Increasing
Voter Participation Rate -1
Decreasing
Serious Crimes -1
Decreasing
Reported Victims of Domestic Violence -1
Decreasing
Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households With Internet Access, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households without Vehicles 0
Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Air Quality 1
Increasing
Population Density 0
Maintaining
Water Quality of the Long Island Sound 10 Not Applicable*
Open Space in Westchester County 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Population, by Age 10 Not Applicable*
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
People 65 or Older Living Alone -1
Decreasing
Foreign-Born Population 1
Increasing
Change in Total Jobs 1
Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Income in Relation to Poverty Level 10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Seniors Living in Poverty 1
Increasing
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Food Insecurity -1
Decreasing
Households Receiving SNAP, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Public Assistance 0
Maintaining
People Receiving Supplemental Security Income 0
Maintaining
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Rent Burdened Households -1
Decreasing
Homelessness, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness, by Sex 10 Not Applicable*
Per-Student Spending 0
Maintaining
Student Suspensions -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
College Enrollment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Mortality Rate from Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Diabetes Mortality, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Suicide Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*


Loading...