Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Lead Poisoning Among Bricklayers – Washington State

Details

• Personal Author:
  Daniell W ; Stockbridge H
• Description:
  The occurrence of symptomatic lead (7439921) poisoning among a work crew of bricklayers in Washington State was reported. Four workers of an 11 man crew developed lead poisoning while replacing the brick lining of an acid accumulation tank. A special brick mortar resistant to acidic environments, which contained 71% lead-oxide (1309600), was the source of exposure. Blood lead levels of the four contaminated workers ranged from 88 to 123 micrograms/deciliter. Three of the workers received chelation therapy with either oral penicillamine or intravenous calcium- ethylenediaminetetraacetic-acid. As a result of the lead poisoning outbreak, the employer initiated several worksite changes. These included improvements in safety training, the construction of a separate area for mixing mortar, shower facilities, and respiratory protection. Follow up investigations of the worksite revealed lack of air sampling and routine medical surveillance of lead exposed workers. These surveillance systems are essential in preventing excessive exposures to lead which may result in poisoning. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Hazardous Substances Lead Lead Poisoning Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Disease-prevention Humans Lead-compounds Lead-poisoning Masons NIOSH-Author Occupational-exposure Occupational-hazards Toxic-effects
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  169-171
• Volume:
  40
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00209359
• Citation:
  MMWR 1991 Mar; 40(10):169-171
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1) ; Lead dioxide (CAS RN 1309-60-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1991
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:cd13ea4287a7255b65b206e58444ecb678b71e2835c9b398939e1d3acaf969798eb7d0cd0b5aceea67395bca7836e6c16f11a0b41048d5bf946739f511f270ad
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183079/cdc_183079_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 391.58 KB ]