Lead Poisoning: Take Home Exposures

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Georgia. Department of Public Health
• Description:
  Approximately 24,000 children in the United States have lead poisoning due to lead dust being brought home from work by parents. Lead is a metal found naturally in the earth's crust. However, lead that enters the environment (i.e. air, soil, water, homes, etc.) through human activities and usage can be toxic. Lead poisoning occurs when there is a buildup of lead in the body that can cause severe health problems. In the past, lead was used in gasoline, indoor and outdoor paint, and was found in everyday household items such as kitchen appliances and children's toys. Even though lead is hazardous, it is still frequently used today in certain industries such as battery manufacturing, scrap metal recycling, and construction. Employees in those workplaces may have an increased exposure to lead. In addition to workplaces, adults can also be exposed to lead through hobbies such as refinishing furniture and going to indoor shooting ranges. Understanding how you can be exposed to lead is important because lead dust can stay on clothes and skin, allowing you to expose others. While the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that the permissible blood lead level for workers in general industry is below 60µg/dL and below 50µg/dL for workers in the construction industry, even the smallest traces of lead can lead to health issues. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that a blood lead level of 5µg/dL or greater can result in lead poisoning. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Lead Lead Poisoning Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Poisoning Preventive Medicine Safety
• Keywords:
  Blood Lead Levels Children Construction Industry Lead Poisoning Manufacturing Occupational Exposure Preventive Measures Take-home Toxins
• 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:
  1-4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066495
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: Georgia Department of Public Health, 2020 Jun; :1-4
• 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:
  Lead poisoning: take home exposures
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2a7d84aa77224c1dcb3dba4e428bc45ee2b9d3e271bfbdc530ad3ed48a2a7b4b38e0e2efcbac7b162b3cfcd1d9ef2fb19defa19bb8ba0f6c93d8ae57a205d5c5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230934/cdc_230934_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 356.92 KB ]