No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Personnel monitoring for alkyl lead and inorganic lead in air was carried out for six weeks on five workers in an alkyl lead manufacturing plant. Lead in air values were compared to biological values for lead blood, lead in urine, and delta aminoleuvlinic acid in urine. While variations in each of these measurements occurred, there was no correlation between any of these three measurements and lead in air. Measurements of atmospheric exposure to alkyl lead by personnel monitoring does not provide an accurate assessment of the degree of hazard to workers. When such measurements are performed frequently, they can provide information useful in controlling respiratory exposure. Biological monitoring of lead in urine as practiced by the alkyl lead industry remains the best protection against overexposure to organic lead.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has advanced engineering controls over administrative controls and protective equipment to reduce exposures to chemicals in the workplace. The application of employee training and motivation programs (such as job safety analysis) to reduce exposures to chemicals has not been emphasized. To determine the effectiveness of such programs, a pilot project in an alkyl lead production facility was conducted with 35 employees in an effort to reduce exposures to organic and inorganic lead. Results after 12 months show a 40% reduction in lead-in-urine and a 24% reduction in lead-in-blood, both indicators of total exposure to organic inorganic lead.