Version July 2025
| Maternal blood lead concentration (µg/dL) | Estimated breast milk lead concentration (µg/L) | Estimated associated increase in infant blood lead at age 1 month (µg/dL)Δ |
| 1 | 0.3 | 0.12 |
| 2 | 0.6 | 0.25 |
| 3 | 0.9 | 0.37 |
| 4 | 1.2 | 0.49 |
| 5 | 1.5 | 0.62 |
| 8 | 2.4 | 0.98 |
| 10 | 3 | 1.2 |
| 20 | 6 | 2.5 |
| 30 | 9 | 3.7 |
| 40◊ | 12 | 4.9 |
* This estimation integrates absorption, distribution, and excretion.
¶ These values are estimations based upon ICP-MS laboratory analysis and increments of less than 2 μg/dL would not necessarily be detectable in clinical laboratories.
Δ Calculated based upon the observation that a 2 μg/L increase in breast milk lead is associated with an increase of 0.82 μg/dL in the blood lead of the nursing infant[1].
◊ Extrapolation beyond the range of observed data from Ettinger et al 2004[1] (where maternal BLLs ranged from 1-30 μg/dL).Reproduced from: Ettinger AS, Gurthrie Wengrovitz A (Eds). Guidelines for the identification and management of lead exposure in pregnant and lactating women. National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 2010. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/147837 (Accessed January 20, 2011).
