About the Value of Lead Prevention Website
The United States lags behind many major countries in reducing sources of lead exposure even though many children in the U.S. are at risk. In 2016, an estimated 270,000 children between the ages 1-5 had elevated blood lead levels. The Value of Lead Prevention website, created by Altarum with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, allows state and community leaders and the public to easily calculate the cost of lead exposure in their state. It also computes the economic benefits of specific policies and programs, from replacing lead drinking water service lines to eradicating lead paint hazards in older homes. Scroll below to learn more about this site, and visit Altarum.org/valueofhealth and "10 Policies to Prevent and Respond to Childhood Lead Exposure" (pages 102-108) to learn about our methods.
What You Can Do on This Site
Calculate the Cost of Lead Exposure
The tool provides users with an approachable overview of the cost and scope of lead exposure in their community.
Explore total number of children exposed and blood level concentrations
Learn the current cost of lead exposure
View cost breakdown by federal, state, and private sectors
View map of current exposure risks
Calculate the Economic Benefits of Lead Prevention by Intervention
Users can customize inputs, such as the cost of testing lead paint, to get a more precise estimate of the economic benefit in their community. Learn more about the specific interventions measured below.
Ready to Get Started?
Click on your state on the map above.