Posted: Jan 25, 2013 2:00 PM by Robert Preidt FRIDAY, Jan. 25
(HealthDay News) -- Lead levels in young children in the United
States have declined dramatically in recent decades, according
to government figures released Friday. But the new report on the
environment and children's health also found a rise in asthma
among kids. "This latest report provides important information
for protecting America's most vulnerable -- our children. It
shows good progress on some issues, such as reducing children's
blood lead levels and exposure to tobacco smoke in the home, and
points to the need for continued focus on other issues,"
Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson said
in a news release. The average blood concentration of lead
measured in children aged 1 to 5 years was 92 percent lower in
2009-2010 than in 1976-1980, according to the EPA. Most of that
decline occurred in the 1980s, but consistent decreases have
continued since 1999. In more good news, the average level of
cotinine -- which indicat