Baltimore City saw a 19% drop in lead poisoning cases in 2017. Statewide over 13,000 more children were tested in 2017 than in 2016. 

The Baltimore Sun reports on the statewide and local findings from the Maryland Department of Environment’s annual report on childhood blood lead surveillance:

There were 2,049 Maryland children reported to have at least 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood last year, down slightly from 2,084 in 2016.

…

Baltimore accounted for 789, or about 39 percent, of those 2017 cases. That’s down from 971 cases a year earlier.

Prince George’s County has the second-highest total of lead poisonings of any jurisdiction in the state last year, with 331 cases.

For more information:

Lead poisoning cases fell 19 percent in Baltimore last year, even as more children tested for exposure (The Baltimore Sun)

Annual Report: Maryland Childhood Blood Lead Surveillance Calendar Year 2017 (Maryland Department of Environment)