Majority of Colorado children under age 6 have lead in their blood

• Lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease in young children, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Driving the news: The recently released study, conducted between 2018 and 2020 and published in September by JAMA Pediatrics, is believed to be the first national analysis into the association between lead exposure and individual- and community-level factors, Axios' Marisa Fernandez writes.

• Researchers analyzed blood lead tests that Quest Diagnostics administered to 1.14 million U.S. children between October 2018 and February 2020.

By the numbers: The study shows 1.4% of Colorado children had blood lead levels of 5 micrograms per deciliter or greater, a standard the CDC uses to help identify elevated cases.

• According to the state, about 1.8% of children in Denver Water's coverage area ages 6 and younger tested positive for elevated blood levels, the Denver Post reports.

Between the lines: Children from predominantly Black or Hispanic ZIP codes were disproportionately affected, compared with those in predominantly white ZIP codes.

• Kids from areas with pre-1950s housing had significantly higher levels.

Go deeper to see how rates compare nationally