Characterization of Lower Blood Lead Levels Reported for New Hampshire Adults from 2014–2016

Details

• Personal Author:
  Armenti KR
• Description:
  Despite significant reductions in lead exposure in the United States, elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) in adults remain a significant occupational health problem. Lead exposure causes acute and chronic adverse effects in multiple organ systems ranging from subclinical changes in function to symptomatic life-threatening intoxication. Moreover, evidence indicates that lead exposure at low doses can lead to adverse cardiovascular and kidney effects, cognitive dysfunction, and adverse reproductive outcomes. Current research has found decreased renal function associated with blood lead levels (BLLs) at 5 µg/dL and lower, and increased risk of hypertension and essential tremor at BLLs below 10 µg/dL. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 95% of elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) in adults are related to their work. Lead is used in over 100 industries, including battery manufacturing, foundry, lead and zinc ore mining, and painting and construction/restoration industries. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has designated 5 µg/dL (five micrograms per deciliter) of whole blood, in a venous blood sample, as the reference blood lead level for adults. An elevated blood lead level (EBLL) is defined as a BLL > 5 µg/dL. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Lead Standards require workers to be removed from lead exposure when BLLs are equal or greater than 50 µg/dL (construction industry) or 60 µg/dL (general industry) and allow workers to return to work when the BLL is below 40 µg/dL. Currently, the Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (HHLPPP) at the Division of Public Health Services in the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services receives all adult blood lead reports for New Hampshire residents from labs and medical providers in accordance with State law. Adult blood lead levels >40 µg/dL are reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as per the federal OSHA Lead Standard. This study was conducted to better characterize blood lead levels in the New Hampshire adult population. The objective is to gain additional insights into the occupational risk for lower level exposures to lead. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Hazardous Substances Mining Occupational Health Paint Safety
• Keywords:
  Battery Manufacturing Industry Blood Lead Levels Construction Foundry Workers Health Hazards Paints
• Publisher:
  Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  New Hampshire ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066258
• Citation:
  Durham, NH: Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, 2019 Mar; :1-8
• Contact Point Address:
  Karla R. Armenti, ScD, Principal Investigator Occupational Health Surveillance Program Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire
• Email:
  karla.armenti@unh.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  University of New Hampshire, Durham
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20150701
• Source Full Name:
  Characterization of lower blood lead levels reported for New Hampshire adults from 2014-2016
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:dc7f8a5802870591b14c7242a1f8fad1be14a3c5f01ea66ff9eb4a110a1e5cf3ea51b56354b0079a24eec7b5b453c395369db66b85ed60f5bdbc3c40dd6b841a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212736/cdc_212736_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 387.02 KB ]