Lead at work: elevated blood lead levels in Massachusetts workers, 1996-2001.
Authors
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Source
Boston, MA: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2006 Jan; :1-8
Abstract
The purpose of the Lead Registry, located in the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety, is to reduce lead poisoning among Massachusetts workers and their families by identifying workers and workplaces with overexposures to lead. Since 1991, clinical laboratories in Massachusetts have been required by state law to report blood lead levels of 15 ug/dl or greater in individuals age 15 or older to the Lead Registry. Lead Registry staff enter all reports into a computerized database and follow up reports of elevated BLLs with interviews and education of workers and physicians, workplace investigations, and employer education and technical assistance. Lead Registry staff interview individuals with BLLs of 40 ug/dl or greater, as well as their health care providers, to learn more about the sources of lead exposure and employer lead poisoning prevention practices. These individuals and their physicians receive educational materials. If a child under six lives in the home, the Lead Registry sends information on free blood lead testing programs. If deemed appropriate, inspectors conduct worksite investigations. For every report of a BLL of 60 ug/dl or greater, the Lead Registry's medical consultant contacts the physician who ordered the blood test to provide them with information on treatment of lead poisoning and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for medical monitoring of lead exposed workers. The Massachusetts Occupational Lead Poisoning Registry participates in a nationwide adult lead surveillance program known as ABLES (Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance), maintained by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. ABLES tracks BLLs of 25 ug/dl or greater in adults using data from clinical laboratory tests collected by states throughout the country. In 2002, ABLES identified 10,658 adults with BLLs 25 ug/dl or greater in 35 states.
Keywords
Lead-compounds; Lead-poisoning; Workers; Work-environment; Work-areas; Poisons; Exposure-levels; Risk-factors; Blood-analysis; Age-groups; Humans; Men; Women; Adolescents; Education; Physicians; Medical-personnel; Children; Surveillance-programs; Epidemiology; Statistical-analysis
Contact
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Center for Health Information, Statistics, Research and Evaluation, Occupational Health Surveillance Program, 250 Washington Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02108
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U01-OH-007302
Source Name
Lead at work: elevated blood lead levels in Massachusetts workers, 1996-2001
Performing Organization
Massachusetts State Department of Public Health - Boston
