Blood lead levels in copper smelter workers in Japan

Lead exposure of workers in a Japanese copper smelter was assessed by determining lead levels in blood, air and flue cinder at the copper smelting processes. All the samples were analyzed for lead by atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean lead levels of air were highest at the anode department followed by the converter, smelter and blend departments. The mean level of blood lead of the workers in the anode department was also the highest among the four smelting departments. The mean blood lead levels of the workers in each department were positively correlated with their air lead levels (r = 0.99, p < 0.01). This study indicates therefore that workers in copper smelters have been exposed to lead in their workplace. Though this finding has already been reported in preceding studies, the Ordinance on Prevention of Lead Poisoning in Japan has not included copper smelter into its target job categories if their lead concentration in the raw material is less than 3%. The limitation of the present Ordinance which defines the targets by the types of job and not by the actual exposure, is discussed.