Chronic occupational exposure to lead: an evaluation of the health of smelter workers

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · J. Occup. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6816422

Winegar, D A ^[1]; Levy, B S; Andrews, Jr, J S; Landrigan, P J; Scruton, W H; Krause, M J

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1. Minnesota Dept. of Health, Minneapolis

After receiving reports of lead poisoning in two workers at a secondary lead smelter, we evaluated the health status of 38 current smelter workers and 87 of their household contacts by questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. Fatigue, cough, and diarrhea were the most frequent symptoms in plant employees; each occurred in at least a third. The most frequent physical finding, hand tremor, occurred in 10 of 33 plant employees. Twelve employees had blood lead concentrations at or above 80 ..mu..g/100 ml, and 17 others had blood lead concentrations at or above 60 ..mu..g/100 ml. All physical signs possibly due to excess lead absorption were manifested by employees with blood lead levels of 60 ..mu..g/100 ml or greater, with one exception. Household contacts of employees had few symptoms suggestive of excess lead absorption.

• OSTI ID: 6816422
• Journal Information: J. Occup. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Occup. Med.; (United States) Vol. 19:9; ISSN JOCMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CHRONIC INTAKE
DUSTS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INTAKE
LEAD
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
MEDICINE
METABOLISM
METALS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PERSONNEL
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
SAFETY
SMELTING
TOXICITY