Savings to the Community from Lead Poisoning Prevention

Lead exposure in children age 6 and younger can lower IQ. It is estimated that for each microgram per deciliter of blood, a child can lose .52 IQ points.

For each IQ point that is lost, a child makes between an estimated $16,809 less over the course of his or her lifetime.

There is a strong link between childhood lead poisoning and a need for special education due to lowered IQ and impaired neurobehavioral function. The estimated average cost of special education in the state of New York is $12,833 per student per year. As a result, lead poisoning prevention can cost taxpayers up to $7.8 million per year to pay for special education services.

The number of children in Chicago who are identified as lead poisoned is 2,600. Many of these children are likely in need of special education.

As the amount of lead in a child’s blood increases, so do the medical costs for doctor visits, follow up testing, nurse only visits, chelation therapy or, in severe cases, for treating a child over several days in a hospital. Preventing childhood lead poisoning could save up to $53 million (Gould basing the estimates on Kemper et al).

The United States could save an estimated $43.4 billion per year in healthcare costs by preventing childhood lead poisoning (Landrigan 2002).

Landrigan, et al (2002). “Environmental pollutants and disease in American children: Estimates of morbidity, mortality, and costs for lead poisoning, asthma, cancer, and developmental disabilities.” In Environmental Health Perspectives 110(7): 721-728.

Gould, E (2009). “Childhood Lead Poisoning: Conservative Estimates of the Social and Economic Benefits of Lead Hazard Control.” In Environmental Health Perspectives v 117 no. 7.

There is a link between early childhood lead exposure and future criminal activity, especially violent crimes. This includes, murder, rape, aggravated assault, robbery and burglary (Bellinger 1994, Nevin 2006, Wright 1998). The estimated total direct costs of violent crimes linked to early childhood lead poisoning is nearly $1.8 billion (Gould 2009).

Wright et al (1998). “Association of prenatal and childhood blood lead concentrations with criminal arrests in early adulthood.” In Public Library of Science Medicine 5:e101 available at: http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10. 1371/journal.pmed.0050101

Nevin, R (2006). “Understanding international crime trends: the legacy of preschool lead exposure.” In Environmental Research 104:315- 336.

Gould, E (2009). “Childhood Lead Poisoning: Conservative Estimates of the Social and Economic Benefits of Lead Hazard Control.” In Environmental Health Perspectives v 117 no. 7.

Childhood lead poisoning has been shown to cause loss of IQ points, life-long illnesses and lower academic achievement. All of these factors can bring down the amount a child will earn over a life time. Lower incomes mean a loss to society as a whole because less comes back to us in tax revenue. It is estimated that the loss in potential tax revenue is between $25

and $35 billion.

It is estimated that preventing childhood lead poisoning would result in a combined net benefit of up to $270 billion with an initial investment of $11 billion. That is a

$24 return on every $1 invested in lead poisoning

prevention.