Lead Toxicity
The Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program is a State-based surveillance program of laboratory-reported blood lead levels (BLLs) in adults. The public health objective of the ABLES program (objective 20.7 in Healthy People 2010 [DHHS 2000]) is to reduce the number of adults with BLLs of 25 µg/dL or greater. Among the 25 States reporting to ABLES during 1998–2001, rates of elevated BLLs (25 µg/dL or greater) ranged from 2.6 to 40.9 per 100,000 employed workers (Figure 2–34). Since 2001, ABLES program enhancements have (1) allowed for an increase to 37 States (adding Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Montana, and New Mexico), and (2) increased data requirements to include individual data on industry, age, and sex. During 1994–2001, declines occurred in the mean annual State prevalence rates for adults with elevated BLLs (Figure 2–33). For the most current listing of ABLES data and ABLES States, visit [www.cdc.gov/niosh/ables.html].
Magnitude and Trend
What were the average State rates of elevated BLLs reported by ABLES States during 1994–2001?
 | Figure 2-33 Average State prevalence rates for adults aged 16 and older with elevated BLLs, ABLES States, 1994-2001. For 1994-2001, ABLES States reported declines in the mean annual State prevalence rates for adults with BLLs of 25 µg/dL or greater and 40 µg/dL or greater. For 1998-2001, the 4-year mean State prevalence rate for adults with BLLs of 25 µg/dL or greater was 13.4 per 100,000 employed workers-a decline from the rate of 15.2 per 100,000 employed workers reported for 1994-1997. For adults with BLLs of 40 µg/dL or greater, the 4-year mean State prevalence rate for 1998-2001 was 2.9 per 100,000 employed workers-a decline from 3.9 per 100,000 employed for 1994-1997. (Sources: NIOSH [2002c]; CDC [2002d].) |
Rates among States
How did the rates of elevated BLLs differ by State?
 | Figure 2-34 Average State rates of elevated BLLs per 100,000 employed workers, 1998-2001: (A) 25 µg/dL or greater, and (B) 40 µg/dL or greater. During 1998-2001, the mean State rates for adults with BLLs of 25 µg/dL or greater ranged from 2.6 to 40.9 per 100,000 employed workers. Among the reporting States, those with the highest rates included Pennsylvania (40.9), New Hampshire (28.4), and Alabama (27.5). The lowest rate was reported by Arizona (2.6). State rates may truly reflect the magnitude of the lead exposure problem, but they may be biased because of varying degrees of completeness of blood lead testing carried out by employers among the States. (Sources: NIOSH [2002c]; CDC [2002d].) During 1998-2001, the mean State rates for adults with BLLs of 40 µg/dL or greater ranged from 0.4 to 8.8 per 100,000 employed workers. Among the reporting States, those with the highest rates included Alabama (8.8), New Hampshire (7.5), and North Carolina (7.0). The lowest rate was reported by Arizona (0.4). (Note: Nebraska provided 2 years of data, and South Carolina provided 3 years. All other States provided 4 years of data for this figure.) (Sources: NIOSH [2002c]; CDC [2002d].) |
