Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance – United States, Fourth Quarter, 1996

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ball W ; Falken M ; Gardner-Hillian A ; Gergely R ; Gerwel B ; Gostin J ; Hawkes A ; Jung BC ; Kaufman J ; Keyvan-Larijani E ; Lehnherr M ; Lofgren JP ; London M ; Migliozzi A ; Payne S ; Rabin R ; Randolph S ; Rhoades E ; Sandoval A ; Schaller K ; Schnitzer P ; Scoblic M ; Stone R ; Thistle-Elliot L ; Tierney J ; Toof L
• Description:
  The epidemiology of adult blood lead (7439921) levels (BLLs) in the United States from October 1, 1996 to December 31, 1996 was reported. The elevated BLLs reported by laboratories were monitored in 25 states by the NIOSH Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program. A total of 6,215 cases of BLLs exceeding 25 micrograms per deciliter (microg/dL) were reported. This total was 11% lower than the 7,014 elevated cases reported in the fourth quarter of 1995. The total number of cases of BLLs greater than 25microg/dL was 8% lower in all four quarters of 1996 than in all four quarters of 1995. For BLLs ranging from 40 to 49microg/dL, about 18% less cases were reported in 1996 than in 1995. For BLLs varying from 50 to 59microg/dL, about 16% less cases were reported in 1996 than in 1995. According to the New York State Department of Health, a total of 64 cases of severe lead poisoning, of which 66% were occupationally related, were reported during the 1982 to 1993 period. Of the work related severe lead poisonings, 52% and 43% occurred among manufacturing and construction workers, respectively. Although only one severe lead poisoning case was reported in 1994 and no severe lead poisoning cases were reported in 1995, seven severe lead poisoning cases, of which 57% were occupationally related, were reported in 1996. All four occupationally related cases reported in 1996 occurred among residential painters. The authors conclude that while the incidence of elevated BLLs is apparently decreasing, this report serves to document the continuing hazards associated with occupational lead exposure. The ABLES program improves surveillance by increasing the number of participating states, decreasing variability in reporting, deciphering between new and recurring elevated BLLs, and identifying new sources of lead. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Hematologic Tests Lead Lead Poisoning Metals Metals, Heavy Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Poisoning Safety Staff Development

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• Keywords:
  Blood-analysis Blood-poisoning Construction-workers Exposure-levels Heavy-metal-poisoning Heavy-metals Humans Lead-poisoning NIOSH-Author Occupational-exposure Occupational-hazards Occupational-health-programs Surveillance-programs

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• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  358-367
• Volume:
  46
• Issue:
  16
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00236903
• Citation:
  MMWR 1997 Apr; 46(16):358-367
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1997
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bbee913538dfc437208eb1db5a5f420e945555a460d9e250807bf6849867e24f6723addc7abe7896746702d4d64d0dcf54abb05a1421ee1948974acffe1da847
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/182999/cdc_182999_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 138.08 KB ]