Elevated Blood Lead Levels Among Fire Assay Workers and Their Children in Alaska, 2010-2011.
In October 2010, an employee at Facility A in Alaska that performs fire assay analysis, an industrial technique that uses lead-containing flux to obtain metals from pulverized rocks, was reported to the Alaska Section of Epidemiology (SOE) with an elevated blood lead level (BLL) ≥10 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL). The SOE initiated an investigation; investigators interviewed employees, offered blood lead screening to employees and their families, and observed a visit to the industrial facility by the Alaska Occupational Safety and Health Section (AKOSH). Among the 15 employees with known work responsibilities, 12 had an elevated BLL at least once from October 2010 through February 2011. Of these 12 employees, 10 reported working in the fire assay room. Four children of employees had BLLs ≥5 μg/dL. Employees working in Facility A's fire assay room were likely exposed to lead at work and could have brought lead home. AKOSH inspectors reported that they could not share their consultative report with SOE investigators because of the confidentiality requirements of a federal regulation, which hampered Alaska SOE investigators from fully characterizing the lead exposure standards.
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Anchorage, AK ; Current affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Immunization Division, Atlanta, GA.
Kimberly A
KA
Porter
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Anchorage, AK.
Cassandra
C
Kirk
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Anchorage, AK.
Donna
D
Fearey
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Anchorage, AK.
Louisa J
LJ
Castrodale
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Alaska State Public Health Laboratory, Anchorage, AK.
David
D
Verbrugge
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, Anchorage, AK.
Joseph
J
McLaughlin
D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005192:Family Health; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008669:Metallurgy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000592:standards; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration / Q000592:standards*
D007854:Lead