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Adult Blood Lead Epidemiology and Surveillance (ABLES)

The ABLES program is a state-based surveillance program of laboratory-reported adult blood lead levels. The program objective is to build state capacity to initiate, expand, or improve adult blood lead surveillance programs which can accurately measure trends in adult blood lead levels and which can effectively intervene to prevent lead over-exposures.

Elevated blood lead levels (BLL's) in adults can damage the nervous, hematologic, reproductive, renal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems. The majority of cases are workplace-related. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that BLLs among all adults be reduced to <25 µg/dL. The highest BLL acceptable by standards of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is 40 µg/dL. The geometric mean BLL of all adults in the United States is <3 µg/dL.

The Program is operated out of the Surveillance Branch of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There are currently fourty states participating in the ABLES program.

ABLES state interventions to prevent lead over-exposures include:

(1) conducting follow-up interviews with physicians, employers, and workers;

(2) investigating work sites;

(3) providing technical assistance;

(4) providing referrals for consultation and/or enforcement; and

(5) developing and disseminating educational materials and outreach programs.