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Occupational lead exposure aboard a tall ship

Journal Article · · Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States)
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To evaluate occupational exposures to lead in shipfitters cutting and riveting lead-painted iron plates aboard an iron-hulled sailing vessel, the authors conducted an environmental and medical survey. Lead exposures in seven personal (breathing zone) air samples ranged from 108 to 500 micrograms/mT (mean 257 micrograms/mT); all were above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard of 50 micrograms/mT. In two short-term air samples obtained while exhaust ventilation was temporarily disconnected, mean lead exposure rose to 547 micrograms/mT. Blood lead levels in ten shipfitters ranged from 25 to 53 micrograms/dl. Blood lead levels in shipfitters were significantly higher than in other shipyard workers. Smoking shipfitters had significantly higher lead levels than nonsmokers. Lead levels in shipfitters who wore respirators were not lower than in those who wore no protective gear. Four shipfitters had erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) concentrations above the adult upper normal limit of 50 micrograms/dl. A close correlation was found between blood lead and EP levels. Prevalence of lead-related symptoms was no higher in shipfitters than in other workers. These data indicate that serious occupational exposure to lead can occur in a relatively small boatyard.
OSTI ID:
6330431
Journal Information:
Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN AJIMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LEAD COMPOUNDS
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OCCUPATIONS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
PORPHYRINS
PROTOPORPHYRINS
RESIDUES
SAFETY STANDARDS
SHIPS
SMOKES
SOLS
STANDARDS
TOBACCO SMOKES
US DOL
US ORGANIZATIONS
US OSHA