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Complete Health Indicator Report of Adult Lead Exposure

Definition

Incidence and prevalence rates of New Jersey adults reported to have elevated blood lead levels in a specified time interval.

Numerator

All reported state residents age 16 years or older with a blood lead level greater than or equal to 25 ug/dL. All reported state residents age 16 years or older with a blood lead level greater than or equal to 40 ug/dL.

Denominator

Total number of employed persons age 16 years or older for the same calendar year.

Why Is This Important?

Among adults, lead poisoning is primarily a preventable occupational health problem. Lead exposure in adults can cause anemia, nervous system dysfunction, kidney problems, hypertension, decreased fertility and miscarriages. Lead exposure may also harm children and other family members through contamination unintentionally brought home from the workplace. Possible sources of non-occupational lead exposure to adults may include: lead-contaminated dust created during home renovations; engaging in a hobby that involves lead (example: bullet making); food stored in lead-soldered cans or improperly glazed pottery; some traditional folk remedies and cosmetics; and some sources of tap water.

Healthy People Objective: Reduce the proportion of persons who have elevated blood lead concentrations from work exposures

U.S. Target: 20.2 persons per 100,000 employed adults

Other Objectives

'''Revised Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective OSH-3''': Reduce the proportion of persons who have elevated (greater than or equal to 25ug/dL) blood lead concentrations from work exposures to 1.2 per 100,000 employed persons. ''Original target: 1.6''

How Are We Doing?

In New Jersey, there has been a trend towards decreasing blood lead levels (BLLs) in adults over time. However, this should be interpreted cautiously for a variety of reasons including an overall decrease in manufacturing in New Jersey, the closing of a large lead acid battery manufacturing facility in the state, and the implementation of an electronic reporting system which more efficiently collects and de-duplicates reported lead cases. Despite these overall trends, the NJDOH still routinely finds elevated BLLs greater than or equal to 25g/dL in workers employed in certain industries. Employers are required to offer annual medical exams to workers who have BLLs greater than or equal to 40 g/dL.

What Is Being Done?

The NJDOH Occupational Health Surveillance Unit identifies high-risk workplaces and provides education and outreach materials to workers and employers. In certain cases, the program may refer employers to federal OSHA or the NJDOH Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) for an enforcement inspection.

Available Services

If you have questions please call NJDOH at (609) 826-4984. Access the NJDOH Environmental and Occupational Heavy Metals Poisoning web page at: [http://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/heavy-metals/] For information related to training and certification for lead-removal workers: [http://www.state.nj.us/health/ceohs/lead/]

Health Program Information

Additional information on surveillance and services related to the prevention of occupational lead poisoning can be obtained from: NJ Department of Health[[br]] Occupational Health Surveillance Unit[[br]] PO Box 369[[br]] Trenton, NJ 08625-0360 Phone: (609) 826-4984[[br]] Fax: (609) 826-4983[[br]] Web: [http://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/]


Related Indicators

Related Relevant Population Characteristics Indicators:



Data Tables


Adults with Elevated Blood Lead >= 25 ug/dL, Incidence Rate by Blood Lead Category and Year, 2000-2020 (HNJ2020)

New Jersey vs. United StatesYearRate per 100,000 Employed PersonsNumer- ator
Record Count: 42
New Jersey20007.5304
New Jersey20016.5259
New Jersey20025.3216
New Jersey20035.2212
New Jersey20044.5187
New Jersey20055.2222
New Jersey20063.6155
New Jersey20074.6166
New Jersey20084.3184
New Jersey20093.9160
New Jersey20105.6203
New Jersey20112.0100
New Jersey20122.088
New Jersey20132.091
New Jersey20141.459
New Jersey20150.624
New Jersey20161.251
New Jersey20172.085
New Jersey20180.624
New Jersey20190.416
New Jersey20200.26
United States20005.54,852
United States20015.24,225
United States20024.95,738
United States20035.16,143
United States20044.75,671
United States20054.25,197
United States20064.45,666
United States20073.84,906
United States20083.44,470
United States2009**
United States20104.05,105
United States2011**
United States2012**
United States2013**
United States2014**
United States2015**
United States2016**
United States2017**
United States2018**
United States2019**
United States2020**

Data Notes

Blood lead levels can give an idea of recent exposure to lead, 3 to 5 weeks before being tested. However, it is not an effective indicator of body burden of lead resulting from long-term exposure. These data are based on an adult lead surveillance system that uses laboratory (N.J.A.C. 8:44-2.11) and health care provider (N.J.A.C. 8.58-1.5) reporting. The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lead regulations require monitoring blood lead levels for workers when air concentrations of lead exceed a certain limit. However, OSHA regulations do not require blood lead testing for all workers who handle lead. These data are therefore subject to significant underreporting. A decrease in cases may be a result of the implementation of an electronic reporting system which more efficiently collects and de-duplicates reported lead cases. During the first few years of the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease may have also been seen due to individuals not getting tested for lead.   **U.S. data not available for 2009 and 2011-2020. This is Healthy New Jersey Objective OSH-3.

Data Sources

  • Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System, Communicable Disease Service, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/reporting/cdrss/]
  • U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics


Adults with Elevated Blood Lead >= 25 ug/dL, Prevalence Rate by Blood Lead Category and Year, 2000-2020

New Jersey vs. United StatesYearRate per 100,000 Employed PersonsNumer- ator
Record Count: 42
New Jersey200013.3535
New Jersey200112.5499
New Jersey20029.8403
New Jersey20039.3382
New Jersey20048.5357
New Jersey20059.0383
New Jersey20067.4315
New Jersey20077.6330
New Jersey20084.9210
New Jersey20094.8199
New Jersey20105.7232
New Jersey20114.0181
New Jersey20124.0161
New Jersey20134.0149
New Jersey20142.8118
New Jersey20151.354
New Jersey20162.4104
New Jersey20172.3101
New Jersey20181.145
New Jersey20190.835
New Jersey20200.310
United States200012.311,077
United States200111.59,943
United States20028.59,915
United States20038.29,884
United States20047.59,170
United States20057.28,902
United States20067.49,555
United States20077.69,898
United States20087.19,325
United States2009**
United States20106.78,432
United States20116.48,366
United States20125.67,332
United States20134.94,836
United States20144.35,172
United States20152.62,907
United States20162.62,563
United States2017**
United States2018**
United States2019**
United States2020**

Data Notes

Blood lead levels can give an idea of recent exposure to lead, 3 to 5 weeks before being tested. However, it is not an effective indicator of body burden of lead resulting from long-term exposure. These data are based on an adult lead surveillance system that uses laboratory (N.J.A.C. 8:44-2.11) and health care provider (N.J.A.C. 8.58-1.5) reporting. The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lead regulations require monitoring blood lead levels for workers when air concentrations of lead exceed a certain limit. However, OSHA regulations do not require blood lead testing for all workers who handle lead. These data are therefore subject to significant underreporting. A decrease in cases may be a result of the implementation of an electronic reporting system which more efficiently collects and de-duplicates reported lead cases. During the first few years of the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease may have also been seen due to individuals not getting tested for lead.   **US data not available for 2009, 2017-2020

Data Sources

  • Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System, Communicable Disease Service, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/reporting/cdrss/]
  • U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics


Adults with Elevated Blood Lead >= 40 ug/dL, Incidence Rate by Blood Lead Category and Year, 2000-2020

New Jersey vs. United StatesYearRate per 100,000 Employed PersonsNumer- ator
Record Count: 42
New Jersey20001.354
New Jersey20011.248
New Jersey20020.936
New Jersey20030.626
New Jersey20040.625
New Jersey20050.624
New Jersey20060.729
New Jersey20070.835
New Jersey20080.626
New Jersey20090.729
New Jersey20100.937
New Jersey20111.021
New Jersey20120.418
New Jersey20131.021
New Jersey20140.312
New Jersey20150.27
New Jersey20160.16
New Jersey20170.315
New Jersey20180.16
New Jersey20190.12
New Jersey20200.01
United States20001.0930
United States20010.9668
United States20020.7868
United States20030.8902
United States20040.7849
United States20050.7866
United States20060.7859
United States20070.6808
United States20080.5693
United States2009**
United States2010**
United States2011**
United States2012**
United States2013**
United States2014**
United States2015**
United States2016**
United States2017**
United States2018**
United States2019**
United States2020**

Data Notes

Blood lead levels can give an idea of recent exposure to lead, 3 to 5 weeks before being tested. However, it is not an effective indicator of body burden of lead resulting from long-term exposure. These data are based on an adult lead surveillance system that uses laboratory (N.J.A.C. 8:44-2.11) and health care provider (N.J.A.C. 8.58-1.5) reporting. The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lead regulations require monitoring blood lead levels for workers when air concentrations of lead exceed a certain limit. However, OSHA regulations do not require blood lead testing for all workers who handle lead. These data are therefore subject to significant underreporting. A decrease in cases may be a result of the implementation of an electronic reporting system which more efficiently collects and de-duplicates reported lead cases. During the first few years of the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease may have also been seen due to individuals not getting tested for lead.   **US data not available for 2009-2020.

Data Sources

  • Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System, Communicable Disease Service, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/reporting/cdrss/]
  • U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics


Adults with Elevated Blood Lead >= 40 ug/dL, Prevalence Rate by Blood Lead Category and Year, 2000-2020

New Jersey vs. United StatesYearRate per 100,000 Employed PersonsNumer- ator
Record Count: 42
New Jersey20002.8111
New Jersey20012.496
New Jersey20021.458
New Jersey20031.040
New Jersey20041.148
New Jersey20051.145
New Jersey20060.731
New Jersey20070.938
New Jersey20080.627
New Jersey20090.832
New Jersey20100.938
New Jersey20111.025
New Jersey20120.728
New Jersey20131.026
New Jersey20140.520
New Jersey20150.210
New Jersey20160.313
New Jersey20170.417
New Jersey20180.16
New Jersey20190.13
New Jersey20200.13
United States20002.42,125
United States20012.32,009
United States20021.51,768
United States20031.41,649
United States20041.21,425
United States20051.21,498
United States20061.11,463
United States20071.21,618
United States20081.11,486
United States2009**
United States20101.01,313
United States2011**
United States2012**
United States2013**
United States2014**
United States2015**
United States2016**
United States2017**
United States2018**
United States2019**
United States2020**

Data Notes

Blood lead levels can give an idea of recent exposure to lead, 3 to 5 weeks before being tested. However, it is not an effective indicator of body burden of lead resulting from long-term exposure. These data are based on an adult lead surveillance system that uses laboratory (N.J.A.C. 8:44-2.11) and health care provider (N.J.A.C. 8.58-1.5) reporting. The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lead regulations require monitoring blood lead levels for workers when air concentrations of lead exceed a certain limit. However, OSHA regulations do not require blood lead testing for all workers who handle lead. These data are therefore subject to significant underreporting. A decrease in cases may be a result of the implementation of an electronic reporting system which more efficiently collects and de-duplicates reported lead cases. During the first few years of the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease may have also been seen due to individuals not getting tested for lead.   **US data not available for 2009 and 2011-2020.

Data Sources

  • Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System, Communicable Disease Service, New Jersey Department of Health, [http://www.nj.gov/health/cd/reporting/cdrss/]
  • U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

References and Community Resources

Access the ABLES web page at: [https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ables/default.html] U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA: Lead [http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/lead]

Page Content Updated On 10/05/2022, Published on 10/05/2022
Occupational Health Surveillance Unit, New Jersey Department of Health, P.O. Box 369, Trenton, NJ 08625-0369, Phone: 609-826-4984, Web: www.nj.gov/health/surv/index.shtml
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Fri, 19 April 2024 18:06:50 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

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