High lead exposure in two leaded bronze ingot foundry workers.
BACKGROUND
Awareness about lead poisoning in South Korea has increased; however, occupational exposures occurring in small-scale businesses have not been thoroughly investigated. We report two cases of high lead exposure in a leaded bronze ingot foundry.


METHODS
Two employees, a 54-year-old primary operator and a 46-year-old assistant, at a small-scale metalworking company who had been employed for 18 years and 1 month, respectively, showed elevated blood lead levels (61.1 μg/dL and 51.7 μg/dL, respectively) at an occupational health checkup. Neither worker complained of abnormal symptoms nor signs related to lead poisoning. Health assessment follow-ups were conducted and biological exposure indices of lead were calculated every four weeks. After the initial follow-up assessment, both workers were relocated from the foundry process to the metalworking process. In addition, a localized exhaust system was installed after the second follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Foundry workers in a small-scale businesses might be at high risk of lead exposure because these businesses might be vulnerable to poor industrial hygiene. Therefore, regular occupational health checkups are required.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Yoojun
Y
Song
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Chunhui
C
Suh
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Shin-Ae
SA
Kim
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Nami
N
Kim
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Sung-Min
SM
Kim
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Seong-Wook
SW
Jeong
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Se-Yeong
SY
Kim
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Kun-Hyung
KH
Kim
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Jeong-Ho
JH
Kim
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Byung-Chul
BC
Son
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Chae-Kwan
CK
Lee
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, 75, Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 633-165 Republic of Korea.
Jong-Tae
JT
Lee
Foundry; Lead exposure; Leaded bronze ingot