New Jersey Department of Health

Office of Occupational and Environmental Medicine





                  OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD





LEAD AND YOUR HEALTH



     Lead can be breathed in when you are exposed to lead dust or 

fumes. Lead dust can also be swallowed. If you eat food or smoke

cigarettes which have lead dust on them, lead can get into your  

body. Some lead compounds called organic lead compounds can pass

through the skin.



     No matter how lead gets into your body, it can get into your 

blood. Once in the bloodstream, lead circulates to all parts of

the body.



     Some of the lead is stored in the liver, kidneys, nerves and 

red blood cells. Much of the lead is stored in bone. The lead

that is not stored in different organs of the body is removed

from the blood by the kidneys and is passed out in the urine.



     Once lead exposure is stopped entirely, the lead content of

the body is slowly reduced to normal as lead passes out of the

body in the urine.



     The most common test for lead is called the blood lead test. 

It measures how much lead is in your bloodstream. The number

expresses how many micrograms of lead are in 100 milliliters of

your blood (ug/100 ml).



     Blood lead levels in the general population are usually

below 25 ug/100 ml. Health effects may be seen above 25 ug/100 ml

in children and above 40 ug/100 ml in adults. The longer you have

a high level the greater the risk that health problems may

happen.



     Levels of 40-60 ug/100 ml may cause weakness in your arms

and legs, trouble concentrating and remembering things or may

cause a low blood count (anemia). The earliest symptoms may be

tiredness, trouble sleeping, stomach problems, constipation,

headaches and moodiness (mostly irritability and depression).



     Levels of 60-80 ug/100 ml can cause kidneys and brain

damage.



     Another test is called EP (erythrocyte protoporphyrin) or

ZPP  (zinc protoporphyrin). This test measures how much your lead

exposure has affected your blood cells and shows how much lead

you have taken into your body over the four to six month period

before the test. Most people who do not work with lead have an EP

level of less than 50 ug/100 ml.

     Lead exposure also increases risk of high blood pressure and

infertility.



     You can have all these symptoms from other causes.



     If you did not see a doctor about the results of your lead

test, we strongly urge you to do so. It is important for your

doctor to know about your lead exposure even if you don't have

any symptoms.





LEAD IN THE WORKPIACE



     The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

developed a Lead Standard (29 CFR 1910.1025) in 1979. The

following is a summary of the major employee rights and employer

responsibilities set forth by the Standard.



     Your employer must see to it that no employee is exposed to

lead at concentrations greater than 50 ug/m averaged over an

eight-hour period.



     You have a right to:



Air Monitoring



 - receive a written copy of air monitoring results within five

   days of the employer's receipt of the results.



Medical Surveillance



 -   a medical surveillance program including blood lead tests,

     ZPP tests, and medical examinations made available by the

     company if you are exposed above 30 ug/m for more than 30

     days per year.

 -   a yearly medical examination if your blood lead level is at

     or above 40 ug/100 ml during the past year, you have any

     symptoms of lead intoxication, you are medically removed

     from lead exposure or you are going to be assigned to a job

     where the lead exposure level is 30 ug/m or more.



Medical Removal



 -   be transferred to a non-lead exposed job under certain

     hazardous conditions without loss of pay or benefits.





Protective Equipment



 -   be provided with an adequate respirator.



 -   receive a fit test to determine whether your respirator

     provides a good seal against your face.



Training



  - be included in an annual lead training program if you are

    exposed at or above 30 ug/m .



     There are immediate steps workers can take to protect

themselves from lead exposure:



     A)   Before beginning work, change into work clothing and

          shoes. Store your street clothing and shoes in a clean

          locker or clean plastic bag. Before going home, HEPA

          vacuum (if possible) your work clothing and shoes, then

          take them off while still wearing your respirator. (A

          HEPA vacuum is one with a high efficiency filter).

          Then, shower and put on your street clothing and shoes.

          Leave your work clothing at work. If you must wash it,

          carry your work clothing home in a plastic bag. Wet the

          clothes in the bag before taking them out for washing.



     B)   Wear a clean, properly fitted respirator at all times

          in all areas of the workplace with lead contamination.



     C)   Eat, drink or smoke only in areas free of lead

          contamination. Do not carry cigarettes or food in areas

          of the workplace with lead contamination. HEPA vacuum

          your clothing (if possible), then wash your hands and

          face before eating, drinking or smoking.



     D)   Clean up lead only by HEPA vacuuming or wet methods.

          Never use compressed air or dry sweeping.







New Jersey Department of Health         Data Prepared: October 87

Office of Occupational and              Revised: March 88

Environmental Medicine

CN 360

Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

(609) 984-1863