Elevated blood lead levels among construction workers in the Massachusetts Occupational Lead Registry.
Although the construction industry until recently was exempt from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration General Industry Lead Standard, including its medical monitoring provisions, periodic blood lead tests have been required for residential "deleaders" and structural painters in Massachusetts. Sixty-three percent of the 381 registrants in the Massachusetts Occupational Lead Registry with blood lead levels of 1.93 mumol/L or higher are construction workers. This proportion is much higher than that reported by registries of several states selected for comparison. These data highlight the need for better protection from lead exposure and the effectiveness of mandatory medical surveillance in identifying elevated blood lead levels among construction workers.
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Division of Occupational Hygiene, Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries, West Newton 02165.
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Davis
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001108:Architecture; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010150:Paint; D012042:Registries
D007854:Lead