Which demographic has been shown to have higher blood lead levels?

The demographic that has been shown to have higher blood lead levels is low-income families living in older housing. This correlation is primarily due to several factors. Older homes are more likely to contain lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust, which can be significant sources of lead exposure, especially if the home has deteriorating paint or is undergoing renovation. Low-income families may also lack access to resources that can help them mitigate these risks, such as lead abatement services or education surrounding lead safety.

Furthermore, these families might live in areas with limited community resources or regulatory enforcement regarding lead hazards, increasing their exposure risk. In addition to structural concerns, low-income families may face constraints that make it more challenging to seek medical attention or monitoring for lead exposure, which can perpetuate the problem.

In contrast, families living in newly built homes typically benefit from modern building standards that prohibit the use of lead materials, while those with middle to high incomes usually have more resources to manage and mitigate lead exposure. Families living in rural areas can have varied exposure levels depending on their housing age and local environmental factors, but are not inherently at greater risk of lead poisoning compared to families in older urban housing.