The American Heart Association’s journal Circulation published a study in the Sept 26 issue which tracked 13,946 subjects for 12 years. It found adults with a blood lead level of 3.6 to 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood were 2 1/2 times more likely to die of a heart attack, 89% more likely to die of stroke, and 55% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those with lower levels.

The number “3.6 to 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood” probably means as little to you as it does to me, but consider that prior to this study, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had suggested that 400 micrograms per liter was a safe level.

While lead exposure in the US has dropped significantly since it was phased out of gasoline, the most recent figures indicate that almost forty percent of Americans had blood lead levels higher than 20 mcg per liter.

Further information from the LA Times

Coincidentally,a couple of recent studies have indicated that dietary calcium may help prevent hypertension caused by elevated levels of lead in the blood. Well, at least there’s some good news!

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