In spite of this tragedy, reducing lead poisoning remains one of the most successful public-health interventions of the past 50 years.

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The mean level of lead in children in the late 1970s was 15, something that would trigger an intervention today. By 2003, it was down to 1.6. We still have a ways to go, but we continue to make great progress.

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Any lead is not a good idea.

192

Above 60 is a medical situation, usually involving an ambulance to the hospital. The boy who died had a level of 180, and by the time they were able to diagnose the lead and get the results back, he was too far gone. There was too much brain damage.

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