Assessment of lead exposures in three radiator repair shops. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Jun 10 00:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:6350419

Piacitelli, G M

In an attempt to determine worker exposure to lead (7439921) in radiator repair shops, area and personal sampling was performed at three locations in Cincinnati, Ohio. Altogether, 129 air samples and 126 wipe samples were collected. The highest air concentrations were near the repair stations where mechanics work with molten lead based solder. Two shops used local exhaust ventilation and had effectively controlled worker exposure to airborne lead. Exposures in a third shop where there was no local ventilation were frequently above the permissible exposure limit (50 micrograms/cubic meter). Lead contamination on work surfaces was as high as 500,000 micrograms/square meter. Lead was also found in lunch areas, on the hands of workers before and after washing, on street shoes and in personal vehicles. The author recommended steps to be taken to reduce the contamination level, including the installation of an effective local exhaust ventilation system, the mandatory use of protective equipment, a strict adherence to personal and environmental hygiene, an enforced prohibition of eating and smoking in all lead contaminated areas, the implementation of routine environmental and medical monitoring programs, and training to increase the awareness of the problems associated with using lead.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6350419
• Report Number(s): PB-93-188209/XAB; IWSB-182.5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LEAD
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
RISK ASSESSMENT
ANATOMY
CONTAMINATION
EXHAUST SYSTEMS
HANDS
IMPLEMENTATION
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INHALATION
INSTALLATION
MECHANICS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
OHIO
PHYSICAL PROTECTION DEVICES
REPAIR
SAFETY
SAMPLING
SKIN
SURFACES
SURVEYS
TOXICITY
TRAINING
US EPA
VEHICLES
VENTILATION
WASHING
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGY
BODY
BODY AREAS
CLEANING
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EDUCATION
ELEMENTS
INTAKE
LIMBS
MEDICINE
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANS
POLLUTION
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
320305* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management
540150 - Environment
Atmospheric- Site Resources & Use Studies- (1990-)