Occupational lead exposure in Los Angeles County: an occupational risk surveillance strategy

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700210209· OSTI ID:5740807

Papanek, Jr, P J; Ward, C E; Gilbert, K M; Frangos, S A ^[1]

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1. Toxics Epidemiology Program, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, CA (United States)

To better understand occupational lead exposures in Los Angeles County, we undertook a questionnaire survey of lead-using industrial facilities not previously identified by county health department staff. Previously our staff had identified 112 lead-using companies with approximately 2,000 lead-exposed workers countywide. For this survey, we developed a database of 1,353 possible lead-using industrial facilities from several sources, including community right-to-know' databases, air pollution or sewer permit records, or other environmental databases. A questionnaire interview was completed with 1,001 (81%) of these companies, yielding 178 previously unidentified facilities employing 7,734 workers with potentially significant occupational lead exposures. Compliance with the OSHA lead standard was often poor in these facilities, particularly for workplaces with 20 or fewer employees. Devoting more public health resources to targeted identification of such industrial facilities and to educational outreach would likely help control occupational lead exposure.

• OSTI ID: 5740807
• Journal Information: American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (United States), Journal Name: American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (United States) Vol. 21:2; ISSN AJIMD; ISSN 0271-3586
• 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
CALIFORNIA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
LEAD
LOS ANGELES
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY STANDARDS
STANDARDS
SURVEYS
TOXICITY
URBAN AREAS
USA