[A little known source of lead poisoning: rasp and file manufacture (author's transl)].
Seventy-two subjects employed in rasp manufacturing and, especially, manual "engraving" were studied by the authors, mainly in order to find out whether lead poisoning could be induced by their particular working activity. Twelve subjects (16.7%) were found to have standard biological parameters for lead (blood lead, urinary delta-ALA and urinary coproporphyin levels) within normal limits. Twenty-five (34.7%) showed hematochemical and urinary signs of increased lead absorption, and 35 (48.6%) marks of lead poisoning, more or less severe. The manufacturing process was then studied and working places were inspected too. Finally, lead poisoning was found to be due to a small lead block, used by hand-engravers in order to avoid damages to the already engraved surfaces of the rasps. This survey leads therefore to the conclusion that rasp manual engraving has to be included among the working activities which can induce lead poisoning.
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy
Una fonte poco conosciuta di saturnismo: la produzione artigianale di raspe e lime