An evaluation of worker lead exposures and cleaning effectiveness during removal of deteriorated lead-based paint.
We evaluated worker lead exposures and cleaning effectiveness during initial cleanup of 19th-century buildings with highly deteriorated lead-based paint. Eighteen rooms of similar size and condition in two university-owned buildings were selected for a pilot project to compare three methods for removing loose paint, paint chips, and dust. The methods used were: dry scraping followed by dry sweeping (no engineering or work practice controls); wet scraping and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuuming; and the latter method with the addition of a portable HEPA-filtered exhaust fan in the room providing about 40 air changes per hour. The final step for all methods was wet-mopping once with tri-sodium phosphate solution. During a single day 18 rooms were cleaned; each of three two-person work crews cleaned six rooms, two with each method. Air and surface samples were collected before, during, and after cleaning. All of the methods were potentially hazardous to workers: 44 percent of the method-based exposures (range: 5.0-360 micrograms/m3) and one of five full-shift exposures exceeded the OSHA PEL (range 9.4-110 micrograms/m3). Lowest worker exposures were during the wet scraping and vacuuming method (mean: 24 micrograms/m3). Providing general ventilation in rooms did not reduce worker exposures and appeared to increase them (mean: 73 micrograms/m3). Overall, the mean floor surface lead levels were reduced 50 percent after cleaning (from 2,600 to 1,300 micrograms/ft2), but the effectiveness of the three methods in reducing floor lead levels did not differ significantly. Overall, the method, mean paint lead concentration, pre-cleaning surface lead concentration, and work crew were significantly associated with the mean worker exposures during cleaning (p = 0.023), but not with the post-cleaning surface lead concentrations (p = 0.13).
Sussell
A
A
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Hart
C
C
Wild
D
D
Ashley
K
K
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006796:Household Work / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010150:Paint; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011481:Protective Clothing
D000393:Air Pollutants; D007854:Lead