Heavy Metals - Lead
Blood lead measures exposure to a heavy metal with no known safe level. Sources include old paint, contaminated water pipes, certain imported products, and occupational dust. In children, even low levels impair cognitive development; in adults, higher levels are linked to hypertension, kidney dysfunction, cardiovascular events, and neurologic symptoms.
Optimal range: who says what
Institutions, researchers and practitioners draw the line in different places. Each position is listed with who holds it and, where a document states it, a link. How we verify ranges.
- Institution or study<3.5 μg/dLCDC blood lead reference value (children 1-5 years)Set October 28, 2021, down from 5.0 μg/dL. It marks children with more lead than most children, not a safe level; CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified.
- Institution or studyAs low as possible; <1 μg/dLLanphear et al. 2018, Lancet Public Health (NHANES III, 14,289 adults)A rise from 1.0 to 6.7 μg/dL (10th to 90th percentile) was associated with 37% higher all-cause and 70% higher cardiovascular mortality.
- Threshold<5 μg/dLRupa HealthFormer CDC blood lead reference value for children; CDC lowered it to 3.5 μg/dL in October 2021.
- Lab reference interval<5 μg/dL, Elevated: >5 μg/dLWhat a lab report flags against. A lab interval is not an optimal target.
3 providers include this
Advanced / Specialty Markers
Why Heavy Metals - Lead matters
Neurotoxin with no safe level. Causes cognitive impairment and cardiovascular disease. Common from old paint and contaminated water.
Which Providers Test Heavy Metals - Lead?
Function Health is both the cheapest ($365/year) and the most comprehensive (160+ biomarkers) panel that includes Heavy Metals - Lead.
3 panels that include it, cheapest first
| Provider | Annual Cost | Total Biomarkers | $/Biomarker |
|---|---|---|---|
 Function Health | $365 | 160+ | $2.28 |
| $365 | 100+ | $3.65 | |
| $499 | 100+ | $4.99 |
$/Biomarker is annual cost divided by the panel's advertised biomarker count, not the price of this one test. We track 23 blood test providers (32 plans); 21 of those plans are itemized marker by marker. Compare all of them.
18 itemized panels do not include Heavy Metals - Lead
Superpower · WHOOP Advanced Labs · Labcorp OnDemand · Life Extension Elite · Everlywell · Mito Health · InsideTracker · Marek Health Base · Marek Health Comprehensive · Marek Health Complete · Marek Health Executive · Empirical Health · Oura Health Panels · SiPhox Health · Hims Labs · Healthspan · Vitality Blueprint Standard · Vitality Blueprint Elite
11 providers not itemized in our matrix
We have not itemized these marker by marker (some sell tests one at a time), so this page cannot say whether they offer Heavy Metals - Lead. Check with them directly.
Life Extension Standard · Quest Health · Ultrahuman Blood Vision · Lifeforce · Hundred Health · Personalabs · Walk-In Lab · HealthLabs · WHOOP Specialized Panels · Marek Health Essential · Vitality Blueprint Upload
Experts discussing Heavy Metals - Lead
Podcast episodes where clinicians and researchers cover this marker in depth. Curated by hand; an episode is listed only when the marker is a substantial topic, not a passing mention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the optimal range for Heavy Metals - Lead?
Published positions differ: <3.5 μg/dL (CDC blood lead reference value (children 1-5 years)); As low as possible; <1 μg/dL (Lanphear et al. 2018, Lancet Public Health (NHANES III, 14,289 adults)). Threshold quoted by Rupa Health: <5 μg/dL (Former CDC blood lead reference value for children; CDC lowered it to 3.5 μg/dL in October 2021). Lab reference interval: <5 μg/dL, Elevated: >5 μg/dL. That is what a lab report flags against, not an optimal target.
Which blood test providers include Heavy Metals - Lead?
3 of the 21 blood testing panels we itemize marker by marker include Heavy Metals - Lead in their panels. This biomarker has limited availability.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Last reviewed Sep 23, 2026 · First published Sep 30, 2025