Fair evidence of modest neurobehavioural dysfunction in children with mild to moderate lead exposure. There is fair evidence for targeted screening of high-risk children.
Screening tests can reliably and precisely detect lead exposure.
Screening high-risk populations using blood lead appears to result in improved clinical outcome. There is good evidence in symptomatic and fair evidence in asymptomatic for beneficial treatment with severe lead exposure. For mild and moderate lead exposure there is little evidence of benefit and fair evidence for serious adverse effects from environmental or pharmacologic intervention. Many postulated adverse effects have not been adequately evaluated. No studies evaluating universal screening were found and no questionnaires have been validated on the Canadian population.