Trail has higher blood lead averages than Canadian and U.S. averages likely due to proximity of residents to the smelter. However, as blood lead levels decrease in Trail, it’s possible that other sources, including older housing stock with chipping and peeling lead paint, could be playing a role in higher blood lead levels as well.

The 2022 average for blood lead levels in children in Trail, aged 6-36 months, was 2.3 micrograms per decilitre. The Canadian average for children aged 3-5 years old was 0.67 micrograms per decilitre and the U.S. is similar.
·         It’s important to note that a direct comparison with Trail isn’t possible as the age ranges for monitoring are different.
·         Trail tracks the age where blood lead in any child would be highest which is before 36 months. Canadian and U.S. averages traditionally start at 36 months when peak blood lead tapers. Therefore, if all else were equal, Trail averages would still typically skew higher than national averages.

Trail has made significant improvements over the years to bring blood lead levels in children down through improvements in air quality and primary prevention with families. For context, in 1989, when annual testing began in Trail, the average blood lead level in children was 15 micrograms per decilitre.
·         Trail is the only community in Canada that does routine blood lead testing.
·         THEP has primary prevention activities in place to reduce children’s exposure to lead and continually drive down blood lead levels.
·         A variety of factors contribute to healthy early childhood development.