title: Potential risk for lead exposure in dental offices.
abstract: In December 2000, the Washington State Health Department discovered white powder that was found to be lead oxide in boxes used to store dental intraoral radiograph film. The Washington State Health Department alerted state health departments throughout the United States. Subsequently, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (WDPH) conducted an investigation of dental offices in the state. This report summarizes the investigation, which indicated that similar storage boxes are used in Wisconsin. The findings indicate that patients are at risk for exposure to a substantial amount of lead during a dental radiograph procedure if the office stores dental film in these boxes.
mesh_terms: D003770:Dental Offices; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D007854:Lead