ADULT BLOOD LEAD EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM (ABLES)

Frequently Asked Questions About Adult Lead Poisoning  

Oregon ABLES has been part of the national ABLES program through the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) since 1991.

The objectives of our program are to:

• Identify adults with elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) and determine the source of their exposure.
• Assure they receive appropriate medical management.
• Assist the individuals, their employers and their medical providers to reduce or eliminate the exposure.
• Identify other family members who may be affected.
• Develop intervention strategies and educational information to prevent future lead exposures.

Download Five-Year Report 1996-2000 (pdf)

Lead poisoning in adults (18 or older) has been a targeted condition in Oregon since 1991, when test results of elevated blood lead levels (equal to or higher than 25 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood) became a reportable condition for health care providers and laboratories. This report describes the Oregon ABLES findings for the five-year period from January 1996 - December 2000. Surveillance of all blood lead test results began during this time.

Report Highlights:
During this period there were nearly 16,000 tests of which 2,478 (15.7%) were elevated (25 µg/dl). All elevated blood lead level (EBLL) cases (representing 497 individuals), were investigated, and had the following characteristics:

• 90% were in the 25-39 µg/dl range, 8% were 40-49 µg/dl and 2% were 50 µg/dl or greater.
  
  
• 95% percent involved men.
  
  
• 90% of the exposures were occupationally related and involved 83 employers.
  
  
• 75% of the occupational exposures were in manufacturing industries, followed by construction with 14%.
  
  
• The number of occupationally related elevated tests declined by 38% during the period, primarily due to exposure reductions in the manufacturing sector.
  
  
• Home remodeling was the most frequent source of non-occupational exposure.