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LeadLead is a soft metal that can cause serious illness and even death. It has been used in a wide variety of industries and products because it prevents corrosion, is long lasting, resists cracking due to heat and cold, kills mold and mildew, and blocks radiation. Lead is not only a hazard in the workplace. AFSCME members and their families, especially young children, may also face the risk of lead poisoning in the environment and in their homes. Lead in the WorkplaceLead-based paint (LBP) is the most common source of lead exposure. Lead has been used for colors (pigments) in paints. The use of lead in house paint was banned in 1978. Industrial use of lead paint is still legal. Lead can be found in many different places at work. Common sources of lead exposure include:
Many AFSCME members face a risk of high exposure to lead on the job:
Lead in the environment and homeLead can be in the air, soil, and water. Certain activities can cause serious contamination of the environment. Lead can get in the soil during abrasive blasting of bridges or when exterior paint is scraped from homes. The major source of lead in water comes from the plumbing. Lead has been used in the pipes that connect homes to the water lines (service lines). In 1986, the Safe Drinking Water Act was changed to lower the amount of lead in water lines and fixtures. Homes built before 1987 are most likely to have lead in drinking water from the plumbing lines. Hot tap water usually has more lead than cold. Therefore, it is better to use cold water for cooking and drinking. It is also a good idea to let water run for a minute or two in the morning or when the water has not been used for a while. Lead can get into food from certain food cans or ceramic-ware. Food cans can contain lead solder to seal the can. Today, lead-containing solder is rarely a problem in food that is produced in the U.S. Health effectsLead can be inhaled or swallowed. It stays in the blood for several months, and can be stored in the bone for decades. Even a small amount can make you sick. The level of lead in blood is measured in micrograms (µg) of lead per deciliter (dl) of blood (µg/dl). A microgram is one millionth of a gram. A gram of lead is about the same weight as a paper clip. If a paperclip was chopped into a million pieces, one piece of the paperclip would weigh the same as a microgram of lead. A deciliter is about the same amount of liquid 3/4ths of a cup. Short Term Effects: Lead can cause damage without any symptoms. Symptoms may not develop until the condition is serious. Very high exposures, over 100 µg/dl can cause coma or even death. The short term signs of lead poisoning can be confused with other illnesses:
Long Term Effects: Some of the conditions, such as high blood pressure, can be reversed. However, lead poisoning can also cause permanent damage to the brain and nervous system, digestive organs, kidneys, heart, the reproductive system, and other organs. Lead can impair hearing, learning ability, coordination, and blood cell formation. Lead poisoning and reproductionWhen a woman is pregnant, her body will take in lead very quickly. This lead will stay in her body. Older lead that is stored in her bones will release into her blood. The fetus is exposed to lead that is in the mother's blood. Very small amounts of lead can cause damage to the developing fetus. Lead poisoning can cause miscarriage, premature (early) birth, and stillbirth. The male reproductive system is also affected. Lead can make men lose interest in sex and cause problems having an erection. Lead affects the shape and movement of sperm. Wives of lead-poisoned workers have more miscarriages and premature births. Their children have more birth defects. Lead poisoning and childrenChildren are more affected by lead poisoning than adults. Children under the age of seven are of special concern. Their developing brains and bodies can easily be damaged by lead. Lead can also cause learning and behavior problems in children which may be permanent. 10 µg/dl: loss in IQ, hearing, and growth Testing for lead in the bodyThere are two kinds of tests to find out how much lead is in the blood. A blood lead test shows how much lead you have been exposed to in the past few days. The ZPP test (zinc protoporphyrin) shows how much lead has entered the body in the last two or three months. OSHA standardsThere are two OSHA lead standards. The OSHA Construction Lead Standard (29 CFR 1926.62) applies to new construction or renovation, demolition or salvage, installation of products that contain lead, and maintenance activities. The General Industry Standard (29 CFR 1910.1025) applies to non-construction activities. Permissible exposure limit (PEL) The permissible exposure limit for lead is 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air (50 µg/m3) averaged over an 8-hour time period. In addition to the PEL, there is also an action level of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air (30 µg/m3) averaged over an 8-hour time period. Employees who work in an area at or above the action level must receive medical surveillance and training on the hazards of working with lead. Exposure assessment and control Employers must determine the amount of lead exposure to their workers. Until the workers' exposure is measured, employers must take steps to protect their employees. OSHA has divided tasks that disturb lead into three categories, each requiring different levels of protection: Class I assumes exposure over the PEL (50 µg/m3). Class I tasks include manual scraping or sanding, using a heat gun, and spray painting with lead paint. Class II assumes exposure is at least ten times the PEL (500 µg/m3). Class II tasks include using lead containing mortar, burning lead, rivet busting, power tool cleaning without dust collection systems, and removal of an abrasive blasting enclosure. Class III assumes exposure is at least fifty times the PEL (2,500 µg/m3). Class III tasks include abrasive blasting, cutting, welding, and torch burning. Employers may not rely on respirators and other personal protective equipment alone to control exposures. Employers must use engineering controls such as ventilation and work practices to control workers' exposure to lead dust. Respirators, protective clothing The type of respirator needed to protect workers depends on the class of work and the level of exposure. It is also necessary to wear protective clothing when working with lead, including gloves, booties, and a hood. Hygiene Eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing tobacco is prohibited in work areas where there is lead exposure. Your employer must provide space away from the work area where you can eat and drink. The employer must also provide you with facilities to wash your hands and face. If you are exposed above the PEL you must also have a place to shower and change in and out of your work clothes. Medical surveillance and medical removal Workers who are exposed at the action level (30 µg/dl) must receive blood tests, a medical exam and consultation. If your blood level reaches 40 µg/dl you must be tested every two months. If your blood lead level is at or above 50 µg/dl, you must be tested again within two weeks. Your employer must remove you from exposure to lead if your blood lead level is still at or above 50 µg/dl on the second test or if it is necessary for other medical reasons. Workers who need to be removed from exposure to lead may receive up to 18 months of job protection rights. These rights include normal wages, seniority, and other benefits. Workers also have the right to return to their former job. Housekeeping Vacuum cleaners must have HEPA filters (high-efficiency particulate). Wet mopping and other cleaning methods that keep dust from getting into the air should be used. Dry sweeping or shoveling should be avoided. For more information about protecting workers from workplace hazards, contact the AFSCME Health and Safety Program at (202) 429-1228, or 1625 L Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036.
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Frank Cosentino
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