Evolution of a state occupational lead exposure registry: 1986-1996

In the first 11 full years of operation (January 1, 1986, through December 31, 1996) of an adult lead registry in New Jersey, 23,456 reports of occupa tional lead toxicity (blood lead level greater than or equal to 1.21 mu mol /L) in 4,011 workers, involving 496 workplace, were received. The majority of the reports and workers were from the manufacturing and construction ind ustries. Over the 11 years, the annual numbers of reports and workers decli ned, although the annual numbers of involved workplaces remained stable, as did the number of newly identified workers and workplaces. The decline occ urred primarily in the manufacturing industry; the construction industry ex perienced an increase in reports and reported workers. For all years combin ed, 36% of reported workers had at least one blood lead level equal to or g reater than 1.93 mu mol/L, although in the most recent years the percentage dropped overall and in both the manufacturing and construction industries.