Occupational lead poisoning in the United States: clinical and biochemical findings related to blood lead levels

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baker EL Jr. ; Barbour AG ; Cox DH ; Folland DS ; Landrigan, Philip J. ; Ligo, Robert N. ; Throckmorton J
• Description:
  A study was made of 160 lead (7439921) exposed workers at a secondary lead smelter, a small scrap smelter, and a lead chemicals facility to investigate dose response relationships between blood lead levels and toxic effects. The levels of blood lead ranged from percent of the total number, clinical evidence of toxic exposure was detected including colic in 33, wrist or ankle extensor muscle weakness in 12, anemia in 27, elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in 28, and possible encephalopathy in two. At blood lead levels below 1.93micromol/l no toxicity was detected. However, 13 percent of those workers with blood lead levels of 1.93 to 3.81micromol/l had extensor muscle weakness or gastrointestinal symptoms. In 5 percent of the workers with lead levels of 1.93 to 2.85micromol/l, anemia was noted. Anemia was also noted in 14 percent with levels between 2.90 and 3.81micromol/l and in 36 percent with levels over 3.86micromol/l. In long term lead workers elevated BUN occurred. All but three workers with elevated BUN had at least 4 years of occupational lead exposure, and nine had received oral chelation therapy. Eight of this group had reduced creatinine clearance and eight had decreased renal concentrating ability. These findings supported the establishment of a permissible biological limit for blood lead at a level between 1.93 and 2.90micromol/l. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Digestive System Digestive System Diseases Hematologic Tests Lead Lead Poisoning Metals, Heavy Metal Workers Musculoskeletal System Nervous System Nervous System Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety

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• Keywords:
  Blood-analysis Gastrointestinal-system-disorders Heavy-metals Lead-poisoning Lead-smelting Muscle-function Neuromuscular-system-disorders Occupational-exposure
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-32
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00193991
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB90-194564
• Citation:
  Bureau of Epidemiology, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia; :1-32
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Bureau of Epidemiology, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a8ef42f33f62acc520d30131a0ad3bb6e1e4e1e5ce95a1045096007d484393257acfa94d4c86c8c756b1dded6fb7b4f4d1e48fac1367caadffe853db5d73ec5b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/205263/cdc_205263_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 930.13 KB ]