Lead exposure among lead-acid battery workers in Jamaica

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baker, Edward L. Jr. ; Burr, Gregory A. ; Figueroa JP ; Flesch, Jerome P. ; Keenlyside, Richard A. ; Matte, Thomas D. ; Baker, Edward L. Jr. ; Burr, Gregory A. ; Figueroa JP ; Flesch, Jerome P. ; Keenlyside, Richard A. ; Matte, Thomas D.
• Description:
  In response to elevated blood lead levels found in Jamaican lead acid battery workers, a survey of occupational exposure to lead (7439921) in this industry was carried out. At the three battery manufacturing sites and ten battery repair shops participating in the study, work practices, engineering controls, and respirator use were observed, and air samples were taken to determine lead concentrations. Questionnaires were administered to employees, and venous blood was taken for determinations of blood lead and zinc- protoporphyrin. Air lead levels were found to be higher at the manufacturing sites than at the repair shops, where few process controls were found to exist. Respirator use was infrequent in both workplaces. Overall, blood lead levels of manufacturing employees were elevated. Elevations occurred in a similar pattern between the two employee groups, although factory workers showed a stronger positive association between poor workplace practices and elevated blood lead. Toxic effects were found in those with higher lead levels, but these were not statistically different from those in the lower level groups. The authors recommend the implementation of United States guidelines for occupational lead exposure in Jamaica and other developing countries, adapted to limitations in local resources. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Lead Lead Poisoning Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Lead Battery-manufacturing-industry Battery Workers Contamination Developing Countries Lead-absorption Lead-poisoning NIOSH-Author Occupational-exposure Occupational Diseases Standards Work-practices Workplace-studies

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OD - Office of the Director ; DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; OD - Office of the Director ; DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  167-177
• Volume:
  16
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00190089
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 1989 Feb; 16(2):167-177
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr. T.D. Matte, NIOSH/CDC, Building 1, Room 3043, D26, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta GA 30333
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1) ; Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1989
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1221326f606cc841fbd8b54e505a5b3295963ee77e2555b37a211789123a62d827d3c5029be29e5c112a0441bf9c0bf4d58406f8d465355ac3d9aae43317a5af
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/205006/cdc_205006_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 633.00 KB ]