Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance
Encyclopedia
The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
funds the Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program, a state-based surveillance program of laboratory-reported adult blood lead level
s. The goal of ABLES is to reduce the rate of adults (age 16 or older) who have blood lead levels of 25 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) or greater (objective 20.7 in Healthy People 2010
). The ABLES program objective is to build state capacity to initiate or improve adult blood lead surveillance programs which can accurately measure trends in adult blood lead levels and which can effectively intervene to prevent lead over-exposures.
s (BLLs) in adults can damage the nervous
, hematologic, reproductive, renal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems. The majority of cases are workplace-related. During 2003–2004, the industry sectors with the highest annual average numbers of resident adults with elevated BLLs were manufacturing
, 4,622 (69%); construction
, 1,252 (19%); and mining
, 488 (7%). The specific industries with the highest numbers were manufacture of storage batteries, 2,499; painting, paperhanging, and decorating, 626; and mining of lead ores, 482. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that BLLs among all adults be reduced to <25 µg/dL. The highest BLL acceptable by standards of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is 40 µg/dL.
The geometric mean BLL of all adults in the United States is <3 µg/dL.
ABLES states are required to have a mandatory state requirement that laboratories report blood lead level results to the state health department or designee. The lowest blood lead level to be reported varies from state to state.
Lead may be taken home from the workplace on clothes or in cars potentially exposing spouses and children. Children who come in contact with lead-exposed workers should be targeted for blood lead screening.
Alabama,
Alaska,
Arizona,
California,
Connecticut,
Florida,
Georgia,
Hawaii,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Iowa,
Kansas,
Kentucky,
Louisiana,
Maine,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
Maine,
Missouri,
Montana,
Nebraska,
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New Mexico,
New York,
North Carolina,
Ohio,
Oklahoma,
Oregon,
Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island,
South Carolina,
Tennessee,
Texas,
Utah,
Vermont,
Washington,
Wisconsin, and
Wyoming.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is the United States’ federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S...
funds the Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program, a state-based surveillance program of laboratory-reported adult blood lead level
Blood lead level
Blood lead level , is a measure of lead in the body. It is measured in micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood ; 10 µg/dL is equivalent to 0.48 micromoles per liter ....
s. The goal of ABLES is to reduce the rate of adults (age 16 or older) who have blood lead levels of 25 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) or greater (objective 20.7 in Healthy People 2010
Healthy People 2010
Healthy People 2010 , started in January 2000 by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, is a nationwide health promotion and disease prevention plan to be achieved by the year 2010...
). The ABLES program objective is to build state capacity to initiate or improve adult blood lead surveillance programs which can accurately measure trends in adult blood lead levels and which can effectively intervene to prevent lead over-exposures.
Health Effects
Elevated blood lead levelBlood lead level
Blood lead level , is a measure of lead in the body. It is measured in micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood ; 10 µg/dL is equivalent to 0.48 micromoles per liter ....
s (BLLs) in adults can damage the nervous
Nervous
Nervous may refer to:* The nervous system* "Nervous" , a rockabilly/doo-wop song first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958* Nervous Records, a UK record label* Nervous Records , a US record label-See also:...
, hematologic, reproductive, renal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems. The majority of cases are workplace-related. During 2003–2004, the industry sectors with the highest annual average numbers of resident adults with elevated BLLs were manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
, 4,622 (69%); construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
, 1,252 (19%); and mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, 488 (7%). The specific industries with the highest numbers were manufacture of storage batteries, 2,499; painting, paperhanging, and decorating, 626; and mining of lead ores, 482. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that BLLs among all adults be reduced to <25 µg/dL. The highest BLL acceptable by standards of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is 40 µg/dL.
The geometric mean BLL of all adults in the United States is <3 µg/dL.
Program Description
ABLES state interventions to prevent lead over-exposures include: (1) conducting follow-up interviews with physicians, employers, and workers; (2) investigating work sites; (3) providing technical assistance; (4) providing referrals for consultation and/or enforcement; and (5) developing and disseminating educational materials and outreach programs.ABLES states are required to have a mandatory state requirement that laboratories report blood lead level results to the state health department or designee. The lowest blood lead level to be reported varies from state to state.
Lead may be taken home from the workplace on clothes or in cars potentially exposing spouses and children. Children who come in contact with lead-exposed workers should be targeted for blood lead screening.
ABLES States
The ABLES program collects data from 40 funded states:Alabama,
Alaska,
Arizona,
California,
Connecticut,
Florida,
Georgia,
Hawaii,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Iowa,
Kansas,
Kentucky,
Louisiana,
Maine,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Michigan,
Maine,
Missouri,
Montana,
Nebraska,
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New Mexico,
New York,
North Carolina,
Ohio,
Oklahoma,
Oregon,
Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island,
South Carolina,
Tennessee,
Texas,
Utah,
Vermont,
Washington,
Wisconsin, and
Wyoming.
External links
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - ABLES Page
- Center to Protect Workers’ Rights (CPWR)
- Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)
- OSHA Safety and Health Topics: Heavy Metals: Lead
- International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
- Occupational Health Guidelines for Chemical Hazards