Air lead exposures and blood lead levels within a large automobile manufacturing workforce, 1980-1985.
Recent (1980-1985) trends in air lead (PbA) exposures and blood lead (PbB) levels experienced by approximately 10,000 workers employed in various stages of the automobile manufacturing process (i.e., auto assembly, lead-acid battery manufacture, foundry work, and "other" manufacturing-related operations) are described. Between 1980-1985, the mean PbB levels of assembly, battery, foundry, and "other" workers decreased by 28, 24, 3, and 27%, respectively, to 16.6, 23.6, 15.9, and 11.8 micrograms Pb/dl. Workers in the following job categories experienced the highest annual mean PbB levels: paste machine operators (battery plants), solder-grinders (assembly plants), and crane operators (foundries). During the same period, median 8-h Time Weighted Average PbA exposures (micrograms Pb/m3) in assembly plants, battery plants, and foundries decreased by 10, 12, and 20%, respectively, to 8.1, 13.6, and 10.9 micrograms/m3.
Operating Sciences Department, General Motors Research Laboratories, Warren, Michigan.
D W
DW
Kononen
H J
HJ
Kintner
K R
KR
Bivol
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D001336:Automobiles; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014896:Welding
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D007854:Lead