Eighty-six children (mean age, 34 months) were studied to determine whether elevated blood lead levels in children are associated with lower erythropoietin concentrations. The median erythropoietin concentration was 5.9 mIU/mL (range, 2.3 to 11.5 mIU/mL), and the median blood lead level was 0.87 micromol/L (18 microg/dL; range, 2 to 84 microg/dL). Blood lead concentration was inversely and independently related to erythropoietin concentration.