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Lead notifications remained high following reduction in notifiable level in 2021

Posted 6 days ago by Helene Marsters Less than a minute to read

We have updated the non-occupational and occupational lead notification surveillance reports. Here are the key findings:

Non-occupational lead absorption notifications

  • Lead absorption notification rates remained high for adults in 2023, but rates for children aged 0–14 years decreased.

  • Lead-based paint was the most common source of exposure, accounting for 27% of notifications since 2014.

  • Males aged 65–74 years had higher lead notification rates than males in other age groups.

  • The Whanganui district had the highest lead notification rates in 2021–22 and 2022–23.

 

Occupational lead absorption notifications

  • Occupational lead absorption notification rates remained high in 2023, partly due to the lowering of the new notifiable level in 2021.

  • Painters and smelting/metal refinery workers were the most notified occupational groups with lead absorption in 2022–23.

  • Pacific people continue to have the highest occupational lead absorption notification rates since 2017.

  • Occupational lead absorption notification rates for people living in the most deprived areas (NZDep 2018 quintile 5) were more than twice the rate of those living in the least deprived areas.