500,000 Children in U.S. Have Elevated Levels of Lead in Blood According to CDC

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than half a million children in the United States have elevated levels of lead in their blood.

The report indicates that between 2007 and 2010, approximately 535,000 children ages 1 to 5 or 2.6 percent of kids in this age group, had blood levels equal to or above the recommended 5 micrograms per deciliter.

While this is 8.6 percent lower than surveys completed between 1999 and 2002, disparities remain among minority groups and low-income families.

In earlier years, the CDC had used a higher threshold -10 mg/dl or greater - to identify kids with concerning blood lead levels. But last year, the recommendations changed to say that kids with levels at or above 5 mg/dl should identified, because these levels are higher than normal.

The CDC notes that increasing iron and calcium in your diet can help reduce the amount of lead absorbed by the body.

Chelation therapy, otherwise known as medical treatment for lead exposure if blood lead levels reach 45 mg/dl or greater, according to the CDC, hopes to provide treatments and prevention tactics for children absorbing the element in their blood stream. The higher blood lead levels seen among minority groups and low-income families can be attributed to differences in housing, nutrition and other environmental factors, according to the report.

Researcher Mary Jean Brown of the CDC's National Center for Environmental health said that most homes built before 1978 have lead paint that can be found in dust and potentially go into children's mouths. Lead in paint is the most concentrated source of lead paint for children, and for those living in high-risk areas, they should be tested every few months.