Recognizing Lead Hazards: For Workers in Scrap Metal Recycling

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Georgia. Department of Public Health
• Description:
  What is Scrap Metal Recycling? Scrap metal recycling, also referred to as secondary metal processing, is a process by which metal from machinery, equipment, and building demolition is refined for re-use. Common metal scrap products include old automobiles and home appliances, such as stoves and washing machines. Scrap metal is sold to industry from individuals, industrial manufacturers, and salvage dealers. How is Scrap Metal Recycling Associated with Lead Exposure? Scrap metal may contain lead from multiple sources. Lead may be in the painted coatings of the scrap or it may be present as a pure metal. During the sorting and shredding processes, lead dust is created and during the burning and torching processes, lead fumes are released. Through these refining and recycling processes, workers may breathe toxic lead dust into their lungs or swallow lead dust that settled on their hands or surfaces that were not adequately cleaned/washed. Additionally, workers may transfer lead particles from their hair, skin, and work attire to their food, personal vehicles, and their homes. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Lead Lead Poisoning Metals Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Poisoning Recycling Safety
• Keywords:
  Fumes Lead Dust Lead Poisoning Metal Workers Occupational Exposure
• Publisher:
  Georgia Department of Public Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Lay Publication
• 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:
  1-6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066500
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: Georgia Department of Public Health, 2020 Jun; :1-6
• Contact Point Address:
  Georgia Occupational Health and Safety Surveillance, 2 Peachtree Street, NW, 14th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Georgia State Department of Public Health, Atlanta
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20150701
• Source Full Name:
  Recognizing lead hazards: for workers in scrap metal recycling
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3cdd36a45d0485d81599c6063e149edb7897fe69985d6e76649911d0acb63d2378bdf4ecb1d9205198590564c040eedc955eba012c238d2ffbd552afbcdb21a5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230928/cdc_230928_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 326.72 KB ]