Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Adult Lead Exposure: Incidence Rate of Blood Lead Level >= 25 ug/dL, New Jersey and the United States, 2000 to 2022
Indicator Report Data View Options
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.
Definition
Incidence and prevalence rates of New Jersey adults reported to have elevated blood lead levels in a specified time interval.
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 (NJAC 8:44-2.11) and health care provider (NJAC 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 also be a result of the implementation of an electronic reporting system which more efficiently collects and de-duplicates reported lead cases. During the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease may have also been seen due to individuals not getting tested for lead.Data Sources
- Occupational Health Surveillance Unit, New Jersey Department of Health
(https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/) - Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
(https://www.bls.gov/)
How the Measure is Calculated
Numerator:
New cases of reported state residents age 16 years or older with a blood lead level greater than or equal to 25 ug/dL.Denominator:
Total number of employed persons age 16 years or older for the same calendar year.
Related Health Objectives and Indicators
Health Initiative: HP2020
Healthy People 2020 Objective OSH-7
U.S. Target: Reduce the proportion of persons who have elevated blood lead concentrations from work exposures to 23.9 persons per 100,000 employed adults by 2020
https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/occupational-safety-and-health
Health Initiative: HNJ2020
Healthy NJ 2020 Objective OSH-3
NJ Target: Reduce the proportion of persons who have elevated (greater than or equal to 25ug/dL) blood lead concentrations from work exposures to 1.3 per 100,000 employed persons by 2020
https://www.nj.gov/health/chs/hnj2020/topics/occupational-safety-health.shtml