National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week October 20-26, 2024. Even very low levels of lead in children’s blood are linked to negative effects on intellect, concentration, behavior, and academic achievement. Although the United States has made meaningful progress for more than 40 years in reducing lead exposure, significant disparities remain along racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. For example, Black children and children from low-income households have persistently been found to have higher blood lead levels than non-Hispanic White children and children from higher-income households.