Academic achievement among adolescents may be affected by early childhood lead exposure at much lower levels than previously assumed, according to a new study.

Just a small climb in blood concentrations of this toxic metal — still within the range currently deemed acceptable by public health agencies — was associated with worse performance on standardized tests, scientists found in the study, published on Wednesday in Environmental Health.

“Children’s exposure to lead has long been recognized as harmful to their health and neurodevelopment,” wrote the University of Iowa research team.

“The present work provides further evidence to support that there are no safe levels of lead and that there is a need to continue to reduce or eliminate lead exposure,” the scientists warned.

In 1991, the

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