Lead exposure among automobile radiator repair workers and their children in New York City.
Despite a comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Administration lead standard, exposure to lead continues in many industries. This paper describes a blood lead screening and education program for automobile radiator repair workers and their families in New York City. Results showed that 67% of automobile radiator repair workers (n = 62) in 89% of the shops tested (n = 24) had blood lead levels in excess of 25 micrograms/dl. The vast majority of workers had never been tested previously, and none had received health and safety training regarding occupational lead exposure. Although none of the workers' children's blood lead levels were in excess of then-current guidelines, several had levels which may be associated with subclinical toxicity and in excess of the revised Centers for Disease Control guidelines of 10 micrograms/dl. This project demonstrates that lead exposure in the automotive radiator repair industry continues to be widespread and that local health departments can assist in hazard identification and remediation.
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Unit, New York City Department of Health, NY 10013.
C M
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Nunez
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S
Klitzman
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Goodman
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001336:Automobiles; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration
D007854:Lead