Adult blood lead epidemiology and surveillance--United States, 1998-2001.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in adults can damage the cardiovascular, central nervous, reproductive, hematologic, and renal systems. The majority of cases are workplace-related. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that BLLs among all adults be reduced to < 25 microg/dL. The highest BLL acceptable by standards of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is 40 microg/dL. The mean BLL of adults in the United States is < 3 microg/dL.


METHODS
This report covers cases of adults (aged > or = 16 years) with BLLs > or = 25 microg/dL, as reported by 25 states during 1998-2001.


METHODS
Since 1987, CDC has sponsored the state-based Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program to track cases of elevated BLLs and provide intervention consultation and other assistance. Overall ABLES program data were last published in 1999 for the years 1994-1997. This report provides an update with data from 25 states reporting for > or = 2 years during 1998-2001. During that period, the ABLES program funded surveillance in 21 states - Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Four additional states - California, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Utah contributed data without CDC funding.


RESULTS
During 1998-2001, the overall program's annual mean state prevalence rate for adults with BLLs > or = 25 microg/dL was 13.4/100,000 employed adults. This compares with 15.2/100,000 for 1994-1997. Yearly rates were 13.8 (1998), 12.9 (1999), 14.3 (2000), and 12.5 (2001). For adults with BLLs > or = 40 microg/dL, the overall program's annual mean state prevalence rare during 1998-2001 was 2.9/ 100,000 employed adults. This compares with 3.9/100,000 for 1994-1997. Yearly rates were 3.3 (1998), 2.5 (1999), 2.9 (2000), and 2.8 (2001).


CONCLUSIONS
Although certain limitations exist, the overall ABLES data indicate a declining trend in elevated BLLs among employed adults.


CONCLUSIONS
ABLES-funded states increased from 21 to 35 in 2002, and more detailed reporting requirements were put into effect. These, and other improvements, will enable the ABLES program to work more effectively toward its 2010 target of eliminating all cases of BLLs > or = 25 microg/dL in adults caused by workplace exposures.
Roscoe
Robert J
RJ
Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Ball
Wayne
W
Curran
John J
JJ
DeLaurier
Carol
C
Falken
Myron C
MC
Fitchett
Rose
R
Fleissner
Mary Lou
ML
Fletcher
Amy E
AE
Garman
Susan J
SJ
Gergely
Rita M
RM
Gerwel
Barbara T
BT
Gostin
Judith E
JE
Keyvan-Larijani
Ezatollah
E
Leiker
Richard D
RD
Lofgren
J P
JP
Nelson
Deborah R
DR
Payne
Susan F
SF
Rabin
Richard A
RA
Salzman
Diana L
DL
Schaller
Kristina E
KE
Sims
Amy S
AS
Smith
Joshua D
JD
Socie
Edward M
EM
Stoeckel
Marie
M
Stone
Robert R
RR
Whittaker
Stephen G
SG
D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D007854:Lead