Key Points

Screening

• The number of screenings for childhood lead poisoning is lower in Normandy compared to neighboring regions;

• The majority of children screened between 2008 and 2018 resided in the Eure and Seine-Maritime departments;

• The median age of children undergoing their first screening was 5 years, and the majority of initial screenings were ordered before the age of 7.

Among all children screened:

• 59% had at least one risk factor, primarily related to their place of residence;

• 14% exhibited symptoms consistent with lead poisoning;

• 9% had blood lead levels above the new threshold of 50 μg/L set in 2015;

• The geometric mean blood lead level was 17.0 μg/L.

Among new cases of lead poisoning:

• 28 were diagnosed between 2008 and 2018, including 17 since the blood lead level threshold was lowered in 2015;

• 60% had at least one risk factor.