TRENTON -- New Jersey could save as much as $27 billion in costs to society by keeping children free of lead poisoning, a report released today said.

In "The Social Costs of Childhood Lead Exposure in New Jersey," Columbia University professor Peter Muennig said fewer children with lead poisoning would save the state on special education, medical treatment and incarceration.

"When young children are exposed to environmental lead, permanent damage can occur to parts of the brain involved in higher intellectual function and behavior," Muennig wrote. "The greater the reduction in lead exposure, the more likely New Jersey’s children will achieve success and realize their full potential."

The report supports rules New Jersey has proposed to improve lead poisoning detection and treatment. Those regulations came about after a 2008 report by the state’s public advocate revealing a childhood lead poisoning problem that was "stubborn and enduring" — especially in cities with old housing, such as Newark, Trenton and Camden.

The changes would reduce the blood lead "level of concern" in children from 20 micrograms of lead per deciliter of whole blood to 15. They would reduce the threshold to as low as 10 when a child has two test results between 10 and 14.

State officials have said the rules could be adopted as early as spring.

"This report provides the new governor and incoming Legislature with information that can be used to build on that progress and ensure all of our children grow up lead free," said Public Advocate Ronald Chen, who supports the rules and commissioned the Muennig report. He made his comments in a news release announcing the new report.

Muennig estimates 86,416 New Jersey children, newborn to 6 years old, would have a minimal risk of lead poisoning; 584,520 children a moderate risk; and 12,633 children a moderate to severe risk.

He predicted the future yearly earnings of children in that age group, factoring in the costs of special education, medical treatment, criminal activity, incarceration, reliance on public assistance and premature death. Muennig concluded "... the net societal benefits arising from these improvements in high school graduation rates and reductions in crime would amount to $31,000 per child."

Including $6 billion in improved health outcomes, the savings come to about $27 billion.

Related coverage:

• N.J. health officials propose tighter standards for lead poisoning

• Morristown partners with N.J. Public Advocate to address childhood lead poisoning

• Foundation gives Newark $1.5 million for lead prevention

• April 29, 2008: Corzine signs order to help prevent lead poisoning