Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention: Lowering the Elevated Blood Lead Level Threshold for Public Health Intervention in Wisconsin, A Cost-Benefit Analysis

In this report, La Follette students analyze the costs and benefits of lowering Wisconsin’s state-mandated elevated blood lead levels intervention threshold.

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Summary

Wisconsin state statute has an intervention threshold for elevated blood lead levels that is far above the CDC-recommended threshold of 3.5 μg/dL, leaving many children with CDC-defined lead poisoning untreated in Wisconsin. This cost-benefit analysis considers three policy alternatives to the current Wisconsin mandate: lowering the threshold to 10 μg/dL, 5 μg/dL, or 3.5 μg/dL. The results show that lowering the intervention threshold is inversely related to costs, with benefits increasing as the threshold decreases.

Information

  • Course: Cost-Benefit Analysis Public Affairs 881 taught by Morgan Edwards, Fall 2024
  • Authors: Anthony Carreño, Ayah Kenj Halabi, Caroline Corona, David Heinritz, and Luis Navarrete
  • Client: Wisconsin Department of Health Services