The New Hampshire Occupational Health Surveillance Program (NH OHSP) has issued a report indicating that long-term lead exposure continues to be a problem in New Hampshire businesses and industries.
A new study published in a report from the NH OHSP called, Characterization of Lower Blood Lead Levels Reported for New Hampshire Adults from 2014-2016, was conducted to better characterize blood lead levels in the New Hampshire adult population and learn more about the occupational risk for lower level exposures to lead. Looking at adult blood lead level test results between 2014 and 2016, the NH OHSP’s analysis indicates that long-term lead exposure continues to be an issue. Adults employed in the Manufacturing, Construction, and Waste Management and Remediation industries represented a large number of those tested and found to have persistent low blood lead levels.
With the knowledge we now have about the health impact of chronic low-level exposure to lead, public health experts need to work with occupational health and safety professionals to monitor and protect workers,” explains Dr. Karla Armenti, Director of NH OHSP. “Ultimately, the most important protection is to reduce permissible exposure levels in the workplace.
The New Hampshire Occupational Health Surveillance Project provides meaningful statistics to identify priority occupational safety and health issues in the state. This includes reports on a variety of core occupational health indicators based on measures of health (work-related disease, injury, or disability) or factors associated with health, such as workplace exposures, hazards or interventions. It is a project at the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. For more information visit: www.nhohsp.unh.edu.
