Acute lead poisoning in construction workers: The failure of current protective standards

Journal Article · · Archives of Environmental Health; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1989.9935877· OSTI ID:5021907

Marino, P E; Franzblau, A; Lilis, R; Landrigan, P J ^[1]

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1. Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY (USA)

Construction workers who use oxyacetylene torches to cut lead-painted metal are at high risk of acute and subacute lead poisoning. Poisoning results from inhalation of submicron-diameter particles of lead fume generated in paint burning. We describe a series of 14 cases of lead poisoning in iron workers cutting a lead-painting bridge in New York City. Peak blood lead levels ranged from 2.32 to 5.80 {mu}mol/1 (48-120 {mu}g/dl). Median duration of employment was 4 wk. Two workers required chelation therapy. Personal (breathing zone) exposures to airborne lead ranged from 600 to 4,000 {mu}g/m{sup 3}. Construction workers are specifically exempted from the provisions of the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lead standard. The data from this study indicate that such exemption is not warranted. A need exists for improved protection of construction workers against occupational exposure to lead.

• OSTI ID: 5021907
• Journal Information: Archives of Environmental Health; (USA), Journal Name: Archives of Environmental Health; (USA) Vol. 44:3; ISSN 0003-9896; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CHELATING AGENTS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION II
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INHALATION
INTAKE
LEAD
MATERIALS
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEW YORK
NEW YORK CITY
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
SAFETY STANDARDS
STANDARDS
THERAPY
US DOL
US ORGANIZATIONS
US OSHA
USA