Occupational lead poisoning: Can it be eliminated?

Kaufman, Joel D.; Burt, J. A.; Silverstein, Barbara

doi:10.1002/ajim.4700260512

“…Recent studies in California and in Connecticut demonstrate improvement in blood lead levels among workers actively engaged in demolition and bridge repair work following implementation of the 1993 OSHA lead standard for construction, including average blood lead levels of 10.9 µg/dl for ironworkers/welders engaged in bridge work in 1994 [Waller et al, 1994;CDC, 1995]. Careful workplace controls appear to make the goal of preventing lead toxicity from lead exposure in construction achievable, although ensuring that this happens remains problematic [Kaufman et al, 1994;Keogh and Gordon, 1994]. The presence of women of reproductive age in the workforce argues for continued efforts to decrease exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead levels in Maryland construction workers

Sokas

¹

,

Simmens

²

,

Sophar

³

et al. 1997

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A cross‐sectional study of unionized construction workers not currently known to be performing lead work was conducted. Participants completed an interviewer‐administered questionnaire obtaining information about demographics, work history, other possible sources of lead exposure and health status (including hypertension, noise‐induced hearing loss and renal disease). Blood was then obtained via venipuncture for whole blood lead level, hematocrit and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin determination. Two hundred and sixty‐four Maryland construction workers had median whole blood lead determinations of 7 μg/dl and mean values of 8.0 μg/dl, with a skewed distribution ranging from 2 to 30 μg/dl. None were currently engaged in known lead work. Blood lead levels were significantly higher for the 124 who had ‘ever’ worked in demolition (8.8 μg/dl vs. 7.2 μg/dl, p = .004), and for the 79 who had ever burned paint and metal and welded on outdoor structures compared to the 48 who had done none of these activities (8.6 μg/dl vs. 6.8 μg/dl, p = .01). The 58 workers who had ever had workplace lead monitoring performed had higher lead levels (9.7 vs. 7.5 μg/dl, p = .003). Blood lead levels increased with age, and cigarette smoking. African Americans (N = 68) had higher lead levels (9.1 vs. 7.5 μg/dl, p = .01). There were only two women in the study, one with a lead level of 21 μg/dl and one, 7 μg/dl. Blood lead levels did not predict either systolic or diastolic blood pressure in this population. However, there was a significant interaction between race and lead as predictors of blood pressure, with blacks demonstrating a trend‐significant correlation, and whites showing a nonsignificant but negative association. Demolition and hotwork on outdoor structures are known to cause acute episodes of lead poisoning. They also appear to cause slight but persistent increases in blood lead levels. Future workplace regulation should recognize and seek to maintain the low baseline now apparent even in urban, East Coast, construction workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 31:188–194, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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“…Careful workplace controls appear to make the goal of preventing lead toxicity from lead exposure in construction achievable, although ensuring that this happens remains problematic [Kaufman et al, 1994;Keogh and Gordon, 1994]. The presence of women of reproductive age in the workforce argues for continued efforts to decrease exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Lead levels in Maryland construction workers

Sokas

¹

,

Simmens

²

,

Sophar

³

et al. 1997

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A cross‐sectional study of unionized construction workers not currently known to be performing lead work was conducted. Participants completed an interviewer‐administered questionnaire obtaining information about demographics, work history, other possible sources of lead exposure and health status (including hypertension, noise‐induced hearing loss and renal disease). Blood was then obtained via venipuncture for whole blood lead level, hematocrit and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin determination. Two hundred and sixty‐four Maryland construction workers had median whole blood lead determinations of 7 μg/dl and mean values of 8.0 μg/dl, with a skewed distribution ranging from 2 to 30 μg/dl. None were currently engaged in known lead work. Blood lead levels were significantly higher for the 124 who had ‘ever’ worked in demolition (8.8 μg/dl vs. 7.2 μg/dl, p = .004), and for the 79 who had ever burned paint and metal and welded on outdoor structures compared to the 48 who had done none of these activities (8.6 μg/dl vs. 6.8 μg/dl, p = .01). The 58 workers who had ever had workplace lead monitoring performed had higher lead levels (9.7 vs. 7.5 μg/dl, p = .003). Blood lead levels increased with age, and cigarette smoking. African Americans (N = 68) had higher lead levels (9.1 vs. 7.5 μg/dl, p = .01). There were only two women in the study, one with a lead level of 21 μg/dl and one, 7 μg/dl. Blood lead levels did not predict either systolic or diastolic blood pressure in this population. However, there was a significant interaction between race and lead as predictors of blood pressure, with blacks demonstrating a trend‐significant correlation, and whites showing a nonsignificant but negative association. Demolition and hotwork on outdoor structures are known to cause acute episodes of lead poisoning. They also appear to cause slight but persistent increases in blood lead levels. Future workplace regulation should recognize and seek to maintain the low baseline now apparent even in urban, East Coast, construction workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 31:188–194, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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“…The systems in Taiwan and the United States differ; however, the beneficial public health effects of surveillance in each country are substantial -large numbers of workers with exposure and/or elevated BLLs have been identified (centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1995; Wu et al 1995b), monitored (Baker 1989;Baker et al 1989;Wu et al 1995a), and educated about prevention of lead poisoning (Kaufman et al 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The epidemiology and surveillance of blood lead in Taiwan (R.O.C.): A report on the PRESS-BLL project

Shen

¹

,

Liou²,

Yang

³

et al. 1997

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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To monitor the lead hazards in industries and to investigate the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in lead-exposed workers, a lead surveillance system (PRESS-BLLs) has been established and operated in Taiwan, Republic of China, since July 1993. A cohort of lead-exposed workers who received a periodic annual health examination at 55 accredited hospital laboratories was constructed. A total of 9807 separate BLL measurements were reported to the system in 1994. The mean BLL was 15.8 micrograms/dl in male workers and 11.6 micrograms/dl in female workers. The mean BLL of lead-exposed workers was significantly (P < 0.05, z-test) higher than that of the general Taiwanese population (8.6 micrograms/dl for males and 6.7 micrograms/dl for females). In addition, the BLLs of 983 (10.0%) workers exceeded the regulatory action level (40 micrograms/dl for males; 30 micrograms/dl for females). The workplaces and homes of 57% of the workers with elevated BLLs were thoroughly investigated to determine the sources of lead contamination. These actions identified the causes of elevated BLLs and set up strategies to reduce workers' lead exposure. The establishment of this occupational lead surveillance system represents a method for monitoring of lead hazards from occupational and environmental settings to prevent lead poisoning. The information acquired from the system can help in the setting up of a priority of prevention and the development of control measures. It is also useful for further monitoring of changes in the BLLs of the lead-exposed cohort. The Health Department of Taiwan can use this information to evaluate the effectiveness of current industrial hygiene practice. Subjects with elevated BLLs have been medically treated and placed on long-term follow-up for sequelae.

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Occupational lead poisoning: Can it be eliminated?

Cited by 13 publications

References 11 publications

Lead levels in Maryland construction workers

Lead levels in Maryland construction workers

Lead levels in Maryland construction workers

The epidemiology and surveillance of blood lead in Taiwan (R.O.C.): A report on the PRESS-BLL project

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