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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)

YearNew Jersey vs. United StatesRate per 100,000 Employed PersonsNumer- ator
Record Count: 42
2000New Jersey7.5304
2000United States5.54,852
2001New Jersey6.5259
2001United States5.24,225
2002New Jersey5.3216
2002United States4.95,738
2003New Jersey5.2212
2003United States5.16,143
2004New Jersey4.5187
2004United States4.75,671
2005New Jersey5.2222
2005United States4.25,197
2006New Jersey3.6155
2006United States4.45,666
2007New Jersey4.6166
2007United States3.84,906
2008New Jersey4.3184
2008United States3.44,470
2009New Jersey3.9160
2009United States**
2010New Jersey5.6203
2010United States4.05,105
2011New Jersey2.0100
2011United States**
2012New Jersey2.088
2012United States**
2013New Jersey2.091
2013United States**
2014New Jersey1.459
2014United States**
2015New Jersey0.624
2015United States**
2016New Jersey1.251
2016United States**
2017New Jersey2.085
2017United States**
2018New Jersey0.624
2018United States**
2019New Jersey0.416
2019United States**
2020New Jersey0.26
2020United States**

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

YearNew Jersey vs. United StatesRate per 100,000 Employed PersonsNumer- ator
Record Count: 42
2000New Jersey13.3535
2000United States12.311,077
2001New Jersey12.5499
2001United States11.59,943
2002New Jersey9.8403
2002United States8.59,915
2003New Jersey9.3382
2003United States8.29,884
2004New Jersey8.5357
2004United States7.59,170
2005New Jersey9.0383
2005United States7.28,902
2006New Jersey7.4315
2006United States7.49,555
2007New Jersey7.6330
2007United States7.69,898
2008New Jersey4.9210
2008United States7.19,325
2009New Jersey4.8199
2009United States**
2010New Jersey5.7232
2010United States6.78,432
2011New Jersey4.0181
2011United States6.48,366
2012New Jersey4.0161
2012United States5.67,332
2013New Jersey4.0149
2013United States4.94,836
2014New Jersey2.8118
2014United States4.35,172
2015New Jersey1.354
2015United States2.62,907
2016New Jersey2.4104
2016United States2.62,563
2017New Jersey2.3101
2017United States**
2018New Jersey1.145
2018United States**
2019New Jersey0.835
2019United States**
2020New Jersey0.310
2020United States**

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

YearNew Jersey vs. United StatesRate per 100,000 Employed PersonsNumer- ator
Record Count: 42
2000New Jersey1.354
2000United States1.0930
2001New Jersey1.248
2001United States0.9668
2002New Jersey0.936
2002United States0.7868
2003New Jersey0.626
2003United States0.8902
2004New Jersey0.625
2004United States0.7849
2005New Jersey0.624
2005United States0.7866
2006New Jersey0.729
2006United States0.7859
2007New Jersey0.835
2007United States0.6808
2008New Jersey0.626
2008United States0.5693
2009New Jersey0.729
2009United States**
2010New Jersey0.937
2010United States**
2011New Jersey1.021
2011United States**
2012New Jersey0.418
2012United States**
2013New Jersey1.021
2013United States**
2014New Jersey0.312
2014United States**
2015New Jersey0.27
2015United States**
2016New Jersey0.16
2016United States**
2017New Jersey0.315
2017United States**
2018New Jersey0.16
2018United States**
2019New Jersey0.12
2019United States**
2020New Jersey0.01
2020United States**

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

YearNew Jersey vs. United StatesRate per 100,000 Employed PersonsNumer- ator
Record Count: 42
2000New Jersey2.8111
2000United States2.42,125
2001New Jersey2.496
2001United States2.32,009
2002New Jersey1.458
2002United States1.51,768
2003New Jersey1.040
2003United States1.41,649
2004New Jersey1.148
2004United States1.21,425
2005New Jersey1.145
2005United States1.21,498
2006New Jersey0.731
2006United States1.11,463
2007New Jersey0.938
2007United States1.21,618
2008New Jersey0.627
2008United States1.11,486
2009New Jersey0.832
2009United States**
2010New Jersey0.938
2010United States1.01,313
2011New Jersey1.025
2011United States**
2012New Jersey0.728
2012United States**
2013New Jersey1.026
2013United States**
2014New Jersey0.520
2014United States**
2015New Jersey0.210
2015United States**
2016New Jersey0.313
2016United States**
2017New Jersey0.417
2017United States**
2018New Jersey0.16
2018United States**
2019New Jersey0.13
2019United States**
2020New Jersey0.13
2020United States**

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 Mon, 20 May 2024 23:01:36 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

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