title: Adult blood lead epidemiology and surveillance--United States, 1998-2001.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Roscoe
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeLaurier
authors.forename: Myron C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Falken
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fitchett
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fleissner
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Garman
authors.forename: Rita M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gergely
authors.forename: Barbara T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Gerwel
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gostin
authors.forename: Ezatollah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keyvan-Larijani
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Leiker
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lofgren
authors.forename: Deborah R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Susan F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rabin
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Salzman
authors.forename: Kristina E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Socie
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoeckel
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Whittaker
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007854:Lead