Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES)

How States Help Reduce Workplace Lead Exposure

Each year, states participating in the ABLES program submit demographic information, blood lead levels, and workplace data to NIOSH. Most states report all BLLs, elevated or not, which is extremely useful and is recommended for any state planning to establish or change their reporting requirements.

As of 2019, 37 states collaborate with NIOSH to conduct work-related adult blood lead surveillance. States in the ABLES program are required to report BLL results to the State Health Department.

Learn more about ABLES data submission instructions

States prevent workplace lead exposures by

• investigating worksites and conducting follow-up interviews with doctors, employers, and workers
• providing technical assistance
• developing and disseminating education and outreach programs
• (Find publications in the NIOSH Clearinghouse)
• sharing lead exposure data with OSHA, which can initiate investigations and promote interventions

How Your State Can Help

Any state health department can participate in the ABLES program. If your state is interested in collaborating with ABLES, please contact Rebecca Tsai to learn more.

Working with Partners and Collaborators

States participating in ABLES are encouraged to work with other state health departments, federal agencies, and professional organizations to prevent work-related lead exposure, including take-home lead exposure.

Collaborators include:

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH)
  • NIOSH Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES)
  • Health Hazard Evaluations (HHE)
  • Risk Assessment
• National Center for Environmental Health (CDC/NCEH)
  • Childhood Blood Lead Surveillance (CBLS)
  • Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT)
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Department of Defense (DOD)
• Center for Construction Research and Trainingexternal icon (CPWR)
• Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists – Occupational Healthexternal icon (CSTE)

The ABLES program maintains a listserv and meets once a year at the Annual Conference of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologistsexternal icon.

Click on the states below for contact information of states participating in the ABLES program.