Lead exposure of welders and bystanders in a ship repair yard

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700020111· OSTI ID:5990231

Grandjean, P; Kon, S H

Blood samples were collected from 126 long-term ship repair workers and 42 retirees. Lead concentrations were determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Three groups with different degrees of lead exposure were identified: (1) 59 welders, burners, and combination men (median blood lead, 39 micrograms/100 ml); (2) 67 painters, laborers, shipfitters, riggers, and other ship repair workers (median blood lead, 26 micrograms/100 ml); and (3) 42 retired welders, painters, and shipfitters (median blood lead, 23 micrograms/100 ml). Thirty active ship repair workers, including 28 welders and burners, had blood lead concentrations above the OSHA action level of 40 micrograms/100 ml. Increased levels in several men without direct exposures to lead were apparently caused by bystander's exposure. In the retirees, blood lead levels decreased with increasing length of retirement. Thus, after eight or more years, the average level was below 20 micrograms/100 ml.

• Research Organization: Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, City University of New York, New York
• OSTI ID: 5990231
• Journal Information: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States) Vol. 2:1; ISSN AJIMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

552000 -- Public Health
560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
JOINING
LEAD
MATERIALS
METALS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
SHIPS
SPECTROSCOPY
UPTAKE
WELDING