Occupational lead poisoning: can it be eliminated?
The continued occurrence of occupational lead poisoning and overexposure in the United States represents a serious challenge to the occupational health community. We outline a proposed action strategy which integrates case-based surveillance, hazard surveillance, increased requirements for biological monitoring, and targeted educational activities, with a goal of eliminating occupational lead poisoning. The system provides a simple mechanism for monitoring compliance in lead-using employers, in order to identify employers for enforcement action. Lead poisoning should be viewed as an eradicable condition; successfully solving the persistent lead overexposure problem can serve as a model for approaching other occupational diseases.
Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention Division (SHARP), Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia 98504-4330.
J D
JD
Kaufman
J
J
Burt
B
B
Silverstein
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009314:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S.; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration
D007854:Lead