Document Detail


Adult blood lead reporting in New York State, 1994-2006.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20402202     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: Laboratories that test New York State (NYS) employees and adult residents for lead exposure are required to report blood lead test results to the NYS Department of Health's Heavy Metals Registry. This registry is used to monitor exposures and to identify new high-risk occupational and nonoccupational activities.
METHODS: We used interviews conducted with people having blood lead levels of > or = 25 micrograms/deciliter (microg/dL) reported to the Heavy Metals Registry to determine the primary source of lead exposure. We reviewed this information, together with demographic information, for the years 1994 through 2006.
RESULTS: While overall there has been an increase in the number of tests being conducted on NYS residents since 1994, the vast majority of the increase is among those with the lowest blood lead levels (<10 microg/dL). Conversely, there has been a decline in the number of adults tested with blood lead levels of > or = 25 microg/dL in NYS due primarily to occupational exposures. However, nonoccupational exposures do represent a relatively large percentage of the individuals with severely elevated blood lead levels (> or = 60 microg/dL).
CONCLUSIONS: Although a surveillance system based on blood lead levels cannot identify the true magnitude of adult lead poisoning, the NYS Heavy Metals Registry has proven to be an important tool for identifying situations in which adult lead poisoning is occurring, and assists in guiding lead poisoning prevention among adults.
Authors:
Kitty H Gelberg; Alicia Fletcher
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)     Volume:  125     ISSN:  0033-3549     ISO Abbreviation:  Public Health Rep     Publication Date:    2010 Jan-Feb
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-04-20     Completed Date:  2010-05-14     Revised Date:  2011-07-26    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9716844     Medline TA:  Public Health Rep     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  103-10     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Occupational Health, 547 River St., Room 230, Troy, NY 12180-2216, USA. khg01@health.state.ny.us
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Lead / blood*
Lead Poisoning / blood*,  epidemiology*,  etiology
Male
Middle Aged
New York / epidemiology
Occupational Exposure / statistics & numerical data
Registries
Young Adult
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
7439-92-1/Lead
Comments/Corrections

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