Low-performing students have a higher level of lead poisoning than students who are performing well, a collaborative study in Detroit has shown.

The Detroit Free Press reported on Sunday that the study conducted by the Detroit Public Schools and the Department of Health & Wellness Promotion found 60 percent of public school students in Detroit who received sub-par grades on standardized tests in 2008 had higher-than-normal lead levels in their blood.

The study also showed that students in special education programs were also prone to elevated levels of lead.

The newspaper also reported that once it enters the system, lead is known to affect neural functioning for life.

Brenda Gelman-Berkowitz, a school social worker, said, "For years, we've blamed the schools and the teachers for kids failing. We haven't seen this connection with lead before. But I see evidence of it everywhere."

It was also noted by the report that throughout the district, 22,755 students out of about 39,000 had some issues with lead poisoning in their medical histories. The study found only 23 students out of 39,199 tested had no lead in their systems. (With Inputs from Agencies)