CSTE Leads Effort to Improve Blood Lead Reporting

ATLANTA, June 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Citing evidence that even a very
low level of blood lead is a significant health risk at any age, the Council
of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) is recommending a change in
the case definition of elevated blood lead levels in adults. In a vote at the
CSTE annual conference in Buffalo, NY, State Epidemiologists approved a
proposal to consider blood levels of 10 ug/dl or more in adults as "elevated"
-- the same standard as currently exists for children.

Studies show that blood lead levels as low as 10 ug/dl contribute to an
elevation in blood pressure and attendant health risks, including stroke. Low
blood levels also are associated with an increase in mortality from heart
disease, decreased kidney function and changes in cognition.

"Having this additional data will allow researchers, epidemiologists and the
public to know more about the burden of lead poisoning across the age
spectrum," CSTE President Mel Kohn, M.D., M.D.H. said. "While we often think
of lead poisoning as a health concern in children and pregnant women, we need
to address how lead poisoning is affecting adults, from exposure in the
workplace and from hobbies such as target shooting."

The risk of lead poisoning is especially pronounced among workers in certain
industries, including lead refining and smelting; construction work involving
paint removal; manufacture of bronze and brass products such as plumbing
fixtures; demolition and maintenance of outdoor metal structures such as
bridges and water towers; and battery manufacturing and recycling.

Many occupational exposures are not identified because not all employers do
the required occupational testing. Compounding the problem is the fact that
only a fraction of known occupational cases are included in national health
statistics, which currently only include counts of individuals with blood lead
levels 25 ug/dl and greater.

Some states are already obtaining reports from laboratories of individuals
with blood lead levels lower than 25 ug/dl and share this information with the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute of Occupational
Safety and Health Adult Blood Lead and Epidemiology (ABLES) Program. ABLES
received reports of 12,935 adults with blood lead levels from 10-24 ug/dl who
were tested in 2007 in 21 states, compared to reports of 5,419 adults with
blood lead levels of 25 ug/dl and above in these same states. These reports
are likely minimum estimates of the true magnitude of the problem.

"The current ABLES data for adults with blood lead levels of less than 25
ug/dl reflects only sporadic reporting," Dr. Kohn said. "The result is a
significant underestimation of the health impact of elevated blood lead levels
in the population of the United States that will be greatly alleviated by the
new recommended reporting practices. With more complete reporting, we will
have a clearer picture of the true scope of the problem to guide our efforts
to prevent lead poisoning. This will reduce the toll of lead exposure on the
health of Americans of all ages."

CSTE is a professional association of more than 1,050 public health
epidemiologists working in states, local health agencies, and territories.
CSTE works to establish more effective relationships among state and other
health agencies, especially through its partnership with the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. It also provides technical advice and
assistance to partner organizations, such as the Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the Association of Public Health
Laboratories, and the National Association of County and City Health
Officials. CSTE members have surveillance and epidemiology expertise in a
broad range of areas including occupational health, infectious diseases,
immunization, environmental health, chronic diseases, injury control, and
maternal and child health. CSTE's work is an important step in ensuring a well
prepared and competent public health workforce.

SOURCE Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists

LaKesha Robinson of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists,
+1-678-656-9052 (cell), lrobinson@cste.org