Educational and Societal Impacts of Lead Exposure, Part 2

Students in the lowest lead exposure category consistently outperformed their peers with higher BLLs on statewide assessments. 

Children with elevated blood lead levels have been found to demonstrate decreased cognitive functioning and to have lower IQ scores. [16,18] This can have implications in the classroom, with studies finding that these students often have lower scores on math and reading abilities, nonverbal reasoning, vocabulary, grammatical reasoning, and short-term memory. [18, 19] 

These bar charts show the disparity in the academic performance of Rhode Island 3rd-5th graders. For the 2023-24 school year, 33% of students with the lowest blood lead levels were proficient in reading. In contrast, only 22% of students in the highest BLL category were proficient. 

Standardized tests have been used prominently in the American education system for over 50 years and remain one of the most common ways to assess student knowledge. In Grades 3-8, Rhode Island students take the RICAS (Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System) math and reading exams every spring. The RICAS tests are designed to measure the content knowledge and skills that students are expected to have mastered as they finish the school year in their current grade. Students who score below proficient may need additional instructional support to meet grade-level expectations. 

For the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, Rhode Island used the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) testing system, but transitioned to RICAS in 2017. So, for those earlier years, PARCC data were used for the analysis.  

Note: ELLs = English language learners 

Note: Though RI students in Grades 3-8 take the RICAS exams, only Grades 3-5 were considered for this report. 

Note: For this visualization, "Testing Data Unavailable" refers to students for whom relevant proficiency testing data could not be located within RIDE records. 

Students with elevated blood lead levels often also have increased school suspension rates.  

Studies have shown that children with higher blood lead levels often exhibit more frequent behavioral issues such as hyperactivity, attention deficits, and impulsive behavior. [20-22] These behavioral manifestations can lead to disciplinary actions in school settings, including suspensions. 

For the 2023-24 school year,  our data showed that students in the elevated BLL category (3.5+ µg/dL)  were 1.6% and 3.3% more likely to be suspended in and out-of-school, respectively, compared to students in the unelevated BLL category (0- 3.49 µg/dL) .

Children with higher blood lead levels may be more likely to require an Individual Education Plan. 

Research has shown an association between lead poisoning in children and IQ loss and learning disabilities. [18, 19, 23] Due to this association, many lead-exposed children may require special education or Individual Education Plans (IEP) services. 

The chart above demonstrates the association between students' blood lead levels and whether they were identified as needing IEP services, as it appears in our data.   Utilize the top menu to access a detailed breakdown of kindergarten through Grade 5 students in Rhode Island public schools, disaggregated by grade level or highest recorded blood lead levels.  

When taken as a whole, kindergarten through fifth grade students with an elevated BLL (3.5+ µg/dL) appear three percentage points more likely to have an IEP than their non-exposed peers (0-3.49 µg/dL). 

Although researchers agree that there is no "safe" level of lead exposure, other factors in a child's life can affect cognitive development. While we cannot be certain which students' IEP services are attributable to lead exposure, we can see a difference between the two BLL categories.  

Additionally, in the visualization above, you can compare elevated BLL with a variety of other subgroup categories, including: 

• Sex 

• Race/Ethnicity 

• English Language Proficiency 

• Economically disadvantaged (Free/Reduced Price Lunch) 

• Repeat Grade (Ever) 

The linked data analysis shows an association between lead exposure and: 

• Lower state assessment scores 

• Higher rates of absenteeism 

• Grade retention 

• Increased IEPs 

These patterns suggest that children exposed to higher levels of lead are at an increased risk of academic and developmental challenges. However, it is essential to recognize that while this data story shows a strong association, it does not establish a causal relationship. 

Lower state assessment scores among students with higher lead exposure may hinder their ability to meet graduation requirements, putting them at a disadvantage regarding long-term educational attainment.  The need to stay home from school due to health-related issues, or to repeat a grade, may further disrupt a child's quality of life and potential to succeed. 

The financial and social costs of lead exposure are substantial. Children who require special education services due to the effects of lead poisoning place an added strain on already limited educational resources. The long-term impact of chronic health may strain caregivers and reduce the state's fiscal health. 

These results support the idea that lead exposure is a current and serious threat to the health and lives of children in Rhode Island. 

Unfortunately, lead exposure is often not a concern until after an elevated blood lead level is identified upon screening. 

Targeted prevention efforts, particularly for children in communities most vulnerable to environmental health risks, are critical in addressing the harmful effects of lead exposure. By identifying high-risk neighborhoods in the state, interventions can be implemented to reduce exposure before it leads to the challenges observed in the data story above. Primary prevention measures are far more effective and cost-efficient than attempting to remediate the consequences of lead exposure.  Basic strategies consist of: regular lead screenings, increased education and outreach, checking homes for hazards, enforcement of lead-safe housing requirements, remediating any lead hazards, and maintaining a safe and healthy home. [24,25] 

The Rhode Island Department of Health recommendations for lead screenings are [26]: 

• One lead test by 15 months, and a second test at least 12 months later 

• Two lead tests by 36 months, and then annual screenings until the age of 6 

Identifying, controlling, and preventing lead health hazards could improve the outcomes for future students in Rhode Island.