Oklahoma Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance Program

---

In 1995, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) began participation in the Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES) program, which is coordinated by the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ABLES program is a state-based surveillance system thorough which states provide information to the NIOSH on reported blood lead levels among adults.

The mission of the Oklahoma ABLES is to meet the Healthy People 2020 objective Occupational Safety and Healthy 7 (OSH-7) which is to reduce by 10 percent the amount of persons who had elevated blood lead concentrations from work exposures.  As a baseline, 22.5 per 100,000 employed adults had elevated blood lead concentrations from work exposure in 2008. 

The purpose of the Oklahoma ABLES program is to:

• Improve the capacity of the OSDH to perform blood lead surveillance and to collect and analyze data to identify the incidence and prevalence of elevated blood lead levels in the adult population (ages 16 or older).
• Provide quarterly and annual data to the NIOSH, which is included in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles regarding blood lead levels nationally.
• To identify hazardous industries and occupations in order to implement primary prevention strategies for the elimination of adult and childhood lead poisoning.
• Ensure the provision of appropriate medical and environmental case management  for adults with elevated blood lead levels.  

Pregnant women and children 6-72 months of age should receive a blood lead test if they live with or come in contact with a person who has a job or hobby where exposure to lead is possible. Also refer to Lead in the Workplace & Outside and Are You Taking Lead Home? for additional information on jobs or hobbies which could result in lead exposure.

 

---

More Adult Blood Lead Information

Reducing Lead Exposure in the Workplace - Oklahoma Department of Labor

OSHA Safety and Health Topics - Lead

NIOSH Lead

NIOSH ABLES

National ABLES Data - 2002 through 2005

National ABLES Data - 1994 through 2001

Lead Exposure Among Females of Childbearing Age-Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: April 27, 2007

Adult Blood Epidemiology and Surveillance- United States, 2005-2007- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: April 17, 2009

Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance- United States, 2003-2004  - Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: August 18, 2006

Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance- United States, 2002 - Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: July 9, 2004

Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance- United States, 1998-2001- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: December 13, 2002