The aim of the following study was to estimate the benefits that might be realized if all children in the United States had a blood lead level of less than 1 microg/dL. 

Data were obtained from published and electronic sources. A Markov model was used to project lifetime earnings, reduced crime costs, improvements in health, and reduced welfare costs using 2 scenarios: (1) maintaining the status quo and (2) reducing the blood lead level of all children to less than 1 microg/dL. 

The cohort of US children between birth and age 6 years in 2008, with economic and health outcomes projected for 65 years. 

Increased primary prevention efforts aimed at reducing lead exposure among children and pregnant women. Societal costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. 

Reducing blood lead levels to less than 1 microg/dL among all US children between birth and age 6 years would reduce crime and increase on-time high school graduation rates later in life. The net societal benefits arising from these improvements in high school graduation rates and reductions in crime would amount to $50 000 (SD, $14 000) per child annually at a discount rate of 3%. This would result in overall savings of approximately $1.2 trillion (SD, $341 billion) and produce an additional 4.8 million QALYs (SD, 2 million QALYs) for US society as a whole. 

More aggressive programs aimed at reducing childhood lead exposure may produce large social benefits. 

Reference: Muennig P., The social costs of childhood lead exposure in the post-lead regulation era, Columbia University, Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009 Sep;163(9):844-9.

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