Adult Blood Lead Levels in Minnesota: Rates and Trends, 2005–2012

Details

• Personal Author:
  Landsteiner, Adrienne M. K. ; Lindgren, Paula ; Olson, Larry ; Williams, Allan ; Yendell, Stephanie
• Description:
  Lead exposure is associated with a number of adverse health events including peripheral neuropathy, anemia, renal damage and cognitive impairment. The vast majority of adult lead exposures occur in the workplace. By statute, all results from blood lead level (BLL) tests performed in Minnesota are submitted to the Minnesota Department of Health for surveillance purposes. We analyzed that data to examine lead exposure trends from 2005 through 2012. We found that an average of 548 persons 16 years of age and older had a BLL greater than 10µg/dL each year during that period. Analysis of the prevalence rate of elevated BLLs among adults for the years 2005-2012 showed a modest, nonsignificant decline among those with BLLs greater than 10µg/dL. Much has been done to reduce exposures and BLLs among young children. However, the policies and standards that protect workers have not been similarly adjusted, and many workers remain at risk of exposure. Although OSHA is responsible for developing and implementing policies and standards to protect workers, health care providers can play a critical role in identifying cases of lead exposure by asking patients about their occupation and industry. Those working in high-risk industries should be tested to determine whether they have been exposed and intervention is warranted. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Epidemiology Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  ABLES Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology And Surveillance Blood Lead Levels Occupational Exposure Surveillance
• ISSN:
  0026-556X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  6 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067557
• Citation:
  Minnesota Medicine 2016 Mar/Apr; 99(2):47-50
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  Minnesota State Department of Health, St. Paul
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20100701
• Source Full Name:
  Minnesota Medicine
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4b2698a3d32d0040aecf6f5a4e1af7c35bcf40f0f49f145135b4dcaf6fb79051c01e5032e8a725ae4433f9f5f4c2e585735b9be7b3fee8a57d5b483c1d972eee
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230657/cdc_230657_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 446.34 KB ]