Health-hazard evaluation report No. HETA 91-393-2171, Georgia Metals, Inc. , Powder Springs, Georgia

Technical Report · Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5271338

Hales, T; Kiefer, M; Mitchell, C; Salisbury, S

In response to a request from OSHA, a study was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the Georgia Metals Company (SIC-3443), Powder Springs, Georgia. A local physician reported to OSHA an elevated blood lead (7439921) level in a facility employee. The company primarily relined newly fabricated or refurbished steel tanks with lead or polyvinylchloride/polypropylene. The company also produces came lead, lead pipe, lead anodes, and lead burning rods from lead pigs and recycled scraps. The mean blood lead level among current employees was 32 micrograms/100 grams whole blood, range of 9 to 51. Five current employees had levels of zinc-protoporphyrin above the standards, suggesting elevated blood lead levels 2 to 4 months earlier. At the time of the evaluation the company was not conducting any environmental monitoring, routine medical surveillance, or providing adequate respiratory protection, housekeeping, hygiene facilities or training. Adverse health outcomes such as hypertension and screening tests for impaired renal function were documented in five of the nine employees tested. The authors conclude that a health hazard existed from employee exposure to lead. The authors recommend specific measures for reducing lead exposure.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5271338
• Report Number(s): PB-92-164565/XAB; HETA-91-393-2171
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BUILDINGS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
GEORGIA
LEAD
HEALTH HAZARDS
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
DUSTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HYPERTENSION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INHALATION
METAL INDUSTRY
METALLOPROTEINS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
UROGENITAL SYSTEM DISEASES
US OSHA
WORKING CONDITIONS
AIR POLLUTION
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
INTAKE
MEDICINE
METALS
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
PROTEINS
SYMPTOMS
US DOL
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
VASCULAR DISEASES
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Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
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