CLEVELAND, Ohio — New testing data shows that fewer children in Cleveland are testing positive for lead poisoning, leaving city officials hopeful that real progress is happening toward keeping children safe. Advocates, meanwhile, are optimistic while pointing out that much more progress is needed.

The percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels dropped from 18.1% in 2023 to 16.8% in 2024 — and so far in 2025 it has dropped to 15.8%, which Cleveland’s Health Director Dr. David Margolius said is an all-time low for the city.

Margolius shared the data during a lead screening and testing committee meeting Thursday morning. He told attendees — many of whom were public health officials working to reduce lead poisoning — that they had all intensified their efforts over the last coupl

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