Medical Surveillance of Occupational Lead Exposure Using the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory and Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance Program: Illinois, 2016-2023

Details

• Journal Article:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Personal Author:
  Abasilim, Chibuzor ; Shannon. Brett ; Madigan, Dana ; Friedman, Lee S.
• Description:
  Background: Despite existing regulations mandating exposure control, training, and monitoring, many worksites continue to inadequately protect workers from lead exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires facilities to report lead emissions to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), presenting a potential tool for identifying at-risk worksites. Research has demonstrated that facilities responsible for high levels of environmental pollution often have poor occupational hygiene controls. Methods: We linked EPA's TRI, the Illinois Adult Blood Lead Registry and business employer data. Using generalized estimating equation (GEE) models, we evaluated the relationship between lead emissions and blood lead testing to estimate the number of potentially exposed workers at sites without medical surveillance of lead exposures between 2016 and 2023. Results: Of 477 Illinois facilities reporting lead emissions, 8.2% (n = 39) were above-threshold polluters. Only 3.98% (n = 19) reported blood lead testing for 2 or more workers between 2016 and 2023. Average annual on-site emissions were 86 pounds for below-threshold polluters, 2601 pounds for facilities providing medical surveillance, and 16,917 pounds among above-threshold polluters without medical surveillance. Among the 39 above-threshold worksites without medical surveillance, the GEE model estimates that (range low-to-high) 7 to 684 workers annually had positive blood lead levels, and 10 to 256 workers had levels ≥ 25 µg/dL. The models indicate that the majority of estimated exposed workers would be employed at 15 worksites. Conclusions: Among facilities reporting above-threshold lead releases, workers rarely received blood lead testing. EPA's TRI data can identify facilities where compliance with the OSHA lead standards is inadequate and can help prioritize worksites for outreach.
• Subjects:
  Epidemiology Lead Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: ABLES; Lead; Lead Testing; Medical Surveillance; TRI Lead; Occupational Exposure; Blood Lead Levels; Environmental Pollution; Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology And Surveillance; ABLES; Toxics Release Inventory; Medical Screening; Surveillance;
• Source:
  Am J Ind Med 2025 Aug; 68(8):688-697
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; Wisconsin ; Chicago Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  10 pdf pages
• Volume:
  68
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071408
• Contact Point Address:
  Lee S. Friedman, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
• Email:
  lfried1@uic.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  University of Illinois at Chicago
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20150701
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bbcdb8635e02e9dd430218971ef9558e6473ba34ab99f4752e05b7aac5019dc54a284f5fbcb35f15c96cd7a913eee570276ac69f9c27f7afaa436213e4b0a047
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/259008/cdc_259008_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 627.88 KB ]