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Occupational lead exposure aboard a tall ship.

P J Landrigan, W E Straub

    American Journal of Industrial Medicine
    |January 1, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary

    Shipfitters cutting lead-painted plates faced high lead exposure, exceeding OSHA limits. Blood lead levels were elevated, with smoking and lack of proper respirator use correlating with higher lead absorption.

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    Area of Science:

    • Occupational Health
    • Environmental Science
    • Toxicology

    Background:

    • Shipfitters working on iron-hulled vessels may face significant lead exposure.
    • Lead-painted surfaces pose an inhalation and absorption risk in occupational settings.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate occupational lead exposure levels in shipfitters.
    • To assess the relationship between lead exposure and biological markers in workers.
    • To determine the effectiveness of protective measures.

    Main Methods:

    • Environmental monitoring of lead in breathing zones.
    • Medical surveillance including blood lead and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) levels.
    • Comparison of exposed shipfitters with other shipyard workers.

    Main Results:

    • Airborne lead concentrations exceeded the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard (mean 257 µg/m³).
    • Blood lead levels in shipfitters were significantly higher (mean 37.8 µg/dl) than controls (mean 10.0 µg/dl), with three exceeding 40 µg/dl.
    • Elevated EP levels correlated with blood lead, and respirator use did not significantly reduce lead levels.

    Conclusions:

    • Shipfitting operations involving lead-painted materials can lead to serious occupational lead exposure.
    • Smoking is associated with higher blood lead levels in this population.
    • Current protective measures may be insufficient to control lead exposure effectively in small boatyards.

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