Clinical pathology selected abstracts
October 2024—Exposure to lead is associated with irreversible adverse effects on fetal and neonatal development. Because no reliable threshold exists for determining the impact of lead exposure on children, the CDC began using the term blood lead reference values to identify children with higher blood lead levels (BLLs). Limiting exposure to lead is critical to ensuring that vulnerable populations, such as fetuses, neonates, and children, are not at risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Lead and inorganic lead compounds are classified as carcinogens, while such metals as mercury and cadmium are considered neurotoxicants. Studies have shown a significant correlation between post-transfusion BLLs in infants and lead levels in RBC units.